Watchtower is a Turkish
foreign language film focused on a remote fire lookout tower watcher.
The film follows the firewatcher as his story intertwines with the
life of a young woman working at the town's local bus station.
Watchtower (Gözetleme Kulesi, in Turkish) touches on present
themes of loneliness, seclusion and life in villages within interior Turkey.
Synopsis
As the title suggests Watchtower follows Nihat, a
firewatcher in a small Turkish village. He is a quiet man who is relatively new
to the village.
Not much is known about him other than what he does for a living. Many of his days go by in seclusion at the top of a mountainous hill where his only connection to the world is through a two-way radio with a handful of other firewatchers around the region in other watchtowers.
Not much is known about him other than what he does for a living. Many of his days go by in seclusion at the top of a mountainous hill where his only connection to the world is through a two-way radio with a handful of other firewatchers around the region in other watchtowers.
The second main character is Seher, a young woman who works
as an attendant and tour guide at the local bus station.
Much like Nihat, she is new to the village and lives a life of seclusion inside the village. As circumstances in the village change, both characters paths cross. Resulting in the two bonding over a shared experience of fragility, loneliness and isolation.
Much like Nihat, she is new to the village and lives a life of seclusion inside the village. As circumstances in the village change, both characters paths cross. Resulting in the two bonding over a shared experience of fragility, loneliness and isolation.
The remainder of the film follows both characters as we
learn about their pasts and why both mysteriously ended up living in the
village.
This synopsis may seem a bit bland. However, the film
provides an abundance of mystery to keep you intrigued.
In my opinion, Watchtower
is a masterclass of Turkish film. It is executed so damn well.
Showing how Turkish films excel in telling dark, slow and mysterious stories. All of which reflect on what it means to be human and all the intricacies of life.
Showing how Turkish films excel in telling dark, slow and mysterious stories. All of which reflect on what it means to be human and all the intricacies of life.
Important Themes
Watchtower tells a story of human emotion in a bleak Turkish
village. Many of the themes discussed in the film relate to the human condition
and the relationships we develop.
When it comes to life in Turkey, there is a huge difference
between urban and rural regions.
Most of the time when you think of Turkey you envision massive bazaars in downtown Istanbul, gorgeous views along the Bosporus, ancient mountain villages, beautiful coastal cities and hot air balloon festivals in Cappadocia. However, as magnificent and amazing as all that is, the vast majority of the country is rural in nature.
Most of the time when you think of Turkey you envision massive bazaars in downtown Istanbul, gorgeous views along the Bosporus, ancient mountain villages, beautiful coastal cities and hot air balloon festivals in Cappadocia. However, as magnificent and amazing as all that is, the vast majority of the country is rural in nature.
These rural regions are home to small villages of people who
work the land, many of whose families have lived there for generations.
However, with the bright lights and promise of a good life in urban cities many young people are moving away from their ancestral homes. This not only has led to a declines in population, but also leaves the villages being described as ‘stuck in time’.
However, with the bright lights and promise of a good life in urban cities many young people are moving away from their ancestral homes. This not only has led to a declines in population, but also leaves the villages being described as ‘stuck in time’.
Life in these villages can be described as simple, but it is
harsh. Without many of the conveniences urban life offers, many in rural
regions suffer from their seclusion and isolation.
To fight this feeling of being cut-off from the world, Turkish villages have gone inward, using their isolation to build tight-knit communities. Helping the townspeople develop their own identities and at times their own unique type of governance. Thereby allowing said people to embrace their isolation by creating unique cultural, regional and tribal identities. Which in turn makes them very wary outsiders and visitors.
To fight this feeling of being cut-off from the world, Turkish villages have gone inward, using their isolation to build tight-knit communities. Helping the townspeople develop their own identities and at times their own unique type of governance. Thereby allowing said people to embrace their isolation by creating unique cultural, regional and tribal identities. Which in turn makes them very wary outsiders and visitors.
Watchtower touches on this aspect of rural Turkish villages and
the importance of fitting in. By depicting the challenges both the main
characters have with finding their place there as well as facing their past demons.
Conclusion
As a whole Watchtower is a tremendous film. As
stated in the synopsis, it is a spectacular film and a prime example of how
good Turkish film can be when executed well.
The film plays with mystery, darkness, confusion, tranquility and imagery well. Building a suspenseful atmosphere around the village.
The film plays with mystery, darkness, confusion, tranquility and imagery well. Building a suspenseful atmosphere around the village.
I have come to appreciate Turkish films a lot. I feel like
it is something that takes a bit of time to come accustomed to. It is
drastically different from the anatomy of Western films. Things are a lot slower, muted
and subtle.
I like to compare Turkish film to historical Chinese and Japanese negative space paintings. Where paintings are done in black & white and use
negative space to convey deep meaning and to depict their subjects with the environment around them.
Watchtower takes you on a slow journey through a small isolated village. Despite the pace of the film being slow, it keeps you interested and
sucks you into the story. Much like my experience when watching Abluka.
After I watched Watchtower it became one of my
favourite Turkish films. Therefore, I urge you to give it a chance. A slow
burner – yes, and a darn good one at that.
