read some of the other review of this film and i be remind of both good and not so good aspect of it . but overall and i have to say it be one of the good film i have see from any number of genre or country recently . more than anything else and it avoid many of the typical trap of more recent international cinema and like take nice picture of landscape or be hip and fun or imitating american film like pulp fiction . the film be unique in many way . for one thing and it be a film about relationship in which sex play no role ( unusual and especially for foreign film ) . it be also a film about two men relationship to each other ( also unusual not a buddy film and no homosexual tension and no ego or phallic competition ) . it use little dialogue and but communicate a tremendous amount . it be a simple story and yet full of complex detail which be easily understand by any human be and universal in their relevance . i do not find the film dark or depressing ( everything would seem this way if you watch hollywood happy end film all the time ) and but rather a true reflection of human emotion . for instance and in the scene where mahmut realize his cousin be go be you see both his feeling of relief and that the cousin be go and yet regret and that he push him away . who have not felt such ambivalence when lose a friend or lover and or in some other situation . it rare to get these kind of real human emotion display on film in a non cliché way . as far a culture be concern and or this be a turkish film and i feel it strike the very difficult balance between be a turkish film about reality which more apply to that place ( the great struggle to make it in a turkish city versus a european one while the great contrast between country and city ) and and a universal and human story which do not necessarily have to be set in turkey . in this day and age where people around the world be consume culture and fetishize it and this film do not try to entice u a turkish and nor do it try to communicate it a a harsh reality and or that how turkey or istanbul be . and yet the cultural element be there . i think the comparison to lose in translation that somebody make be quite good . everyone and at least in the u and be rave about that film . i personally think it be mediocre at best . it be well put by someone a a vague story which supposedly be suppose to deal with wouldisorientation that happen to people live or travel overseas . even if the film be suppose to be humorous and the character and their motivation or crisis be never clear ( even for a lighter film or comedy and this be necessary ) . and i find myself be treat to a typically orientalist story of the alienated amerian overseas . go back to distant and a for the idea that this be bad act and or too slow and or have no plot and i be sorry but people who say this know nothing about film making and maybe nothing about be human and no offense . you do not have to be a film aficionado or cultural connoisseur to appreciate this film . this film will be two hour of your time well spend .