Mustang (Deniz Gamze Erguven, 2015): Turkey, France, Qatar, Germany

Reviewed by Kendall Crumley. Viewed at the AFI Fest 2015.

This film is amazing! The many emotions I experienced watching this film was incredible, right from the start I was hooked and couldn’t keep my eyes off the screen. It gave me the illusion that I was right there with the girls going through every intense moment with them.

The girls were shut out from the outside world only to be let out when they were to be presented to the male community as wife material. As young as they were it seemed their only purpose as young woman was to be married off as virgins. It was shocking to see how the family would go to such far measures to find the girls husbands when they were obviously not ready for that part of their life to begin yet.

At first the film was joyful and bright showing the girls doing what children are usually portrayed as, but throughout it got more intense, revealing the actual lives these young siblings had to battle their way through to the freedom that they seeked all along.

Every single actor was brilliant in this film, the emotions they showed on screen allowed you to feel the emotions along with them. Scenes would have me on the edge of my seat, holding my breathe waiting to see what would become of the actors and the situation.

If anything this is a film that I would be very willing to see over again many times, I definitely recommend seeing it any chance you get.