Our Grand Despair

Our Grand Despair (Bizim Büyük Çaresizliğimiz), 2011

Turkey, 35mm, Color, 102’

Director: Seyfi Teoman

Cast: İlker Aksum, Mehmet Ali Nuroğlu, Taner Birsel, Baki Davrak, Güneş Sayın

Language: Turkish

One of the entries in the Berlinale competition, this bittersweet comedy portrays a long-time friendship between Ender and his pal, Çetin. Now in their late 30’s, the pair have enjoyed a very close, platonic bond since high school. An adaptation from Ankara-based author Barış Bıçakçı’s novel, the film is a love-triangle set in a snowy Ankara. They are soon joined by the traumatized Nihal, sister of their friend Fikret, who needs somewhere to stay following the death of her parents in a car crash. They take some time to adapt to a female presence. Before long, the inevitable happens and they are both falling in love with Nihal each unaware of the other’s love. The French style love triangle leaves the audience with a peculiar sense of relief in the end.