Before Your Eyes

Tragic and eye opening
There are a lot of films out there based on the turmoil in the Middle East. I'll admit, I haven't seen too many of them, but those I have were deeply effective and more often than not, quite tragic. What many Middle Eastern countries and villages face on a daily basis is unfathomable to me. It's no surprise that movies have been such a powerful outlet for those that face these constant threats and struggles. Before Your Eyes is one such example of what I can only assume a realistic tale of a family caught in the cross hairs of oppression.

The film takes place in Diyarbakir in Turkish Kurdistan in the early 90's. This is a place that I haven't even heard of prior to viewing this film (I assume this is true for many of my fellow countrymen as well), but from what I understand Before Your Eyes paints a fairly accurate portrait of it (in fact, according to the director, it's probably worse in real life). At the beginning of the film we're introduced to a seemingly normal and...

4.5 stars... outstanding family and political drama from Turkish Kurdistan
Let me state upfront that I am a big fan of the Film Movement library of indie and foreign films. I have see quite a few of their 120 releases over the last 10 years, but I still have quite a few to go as well. Fell upon this one recently at my local library's foreign movie section and picked it up blindly.

"Before Your Eyes" (2009 release from Turkish Kurdistan; original title "The Children of Diyarbakir"; released in the US in 2012; 101 min.) is set entirely in the city of Diyarbakir, in Turkish Kurdistan, where there is a lot of tension between local Kurds and Turkish forces. As the movie opens, we meet a local family consisting of mom, dad, and three children, a girl, 10, a boy, about 8, and a little baby. Everything seems to be going well. About a half-hour into the movie, as the family is driving back from a wedding, they are stopped for what appears to be a routine traffic check the local police (but in fact it is the secret state security force) and shockingly, the...

Simply stunning but a tragic film nonetheless
I say this movie yesterday and it's impossible to convey my feelings in a few words. This is as real as it gets and is a visceral reminder of how lucky we are.
I have to warn potential viewers, this is horrifying and gut wrenching at times though there is that one moment when one can say "there is justice in the world after all". I will also add that the lead character (Gulistan) is simply superb.

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