Boa Viagem

Yolun Acik Olsun aka Godspeed, a movie that stirs you from start to finish. I still haven't recovered from the disturbing and unexpected ending. A sweet-bitter happy ending, but behind this ending are hidden truths, traumas that you only get over if you make the ultimate sacrifice. A masterful interpretation. Engin Akyurek was Salih to the bone. Every look, every line brings a drop of the drama that is about to be revealed until the end. The traumas of war, the connection between the two comrades-in-arms, the promises made that must be fulfilled, the consequences that war brings on everyone's lives are so well and sensibly rendered, without force, without unnecessary violence. A story from which many lessons can be learned.

Bravo Engin Akyurek 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Bravo Tolga Saritas 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 On top of that, Toygar Isikli soundtrack 👍🏻

As "Godspeed" (2022 release from Turkey; 119 min.) opens, we are introduced to Salih, and ex-army captain who lost his left leg in combat. Salih and Karim, who served under him as a lieutenant, are about to hit the road, "to crash a wedding", per Salih. Whose wedding? And why travel 700 km in an old (1974) Mercedes which Salih has faithfully restored to its former glory? At this point we are 10 min into the movie.

Couple of comments: this is the latest from veteran Turkish director Mehmet Ada Oztekin. Here he looks at the long shadows of combat-induced Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and how it affects not just one guy (Salih), but indeed everyone around him. The movie is structured as a road movie, as Salih and Karim drive to the wedding and along the way run into unexpected challenges and situations, but it is in the flashbacks that we find out what exactly happened in Salih in combat and later as he is in the hospital. Even though these events unfold in Turkey, the themes explored in this film are universal and timeless, as indeed the characters are easily relatable for us American viewers. This film is not for anyone in a hurry, but you will be rewarded plenty for it.

"Godspeed" premiered on Netflix earlier this week. If you are in the mood for a foreign road movie with a lot of underlying emotional drama and as portrayed by well developed characters, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.

The original name of this movie is "Yolun Acik Olsun", which literally translates to "May Your Road be Open" in English. The prayer itself might be manifested throughout the movie in that the road might be constantly open, but oh boy are there some sharp turns that makes you wish for a full stop... Always make sure your prayers are fully-inclusive lmao

I presume the Turkish cinema was waiting for the economy to collapse to sublime in producing top-of-the-class movies such as this. I'm not going to give any information regarding what happens in the movie, just go ahead and dive.

Good luck in coping with the after-effects of this movie; a cold shower usually works.

This movie is simply a masterpiece! The acting, the cast, the cinematography, the music, everything works in perfect harmony to create a robust and a very realistic scenario that millions of soldiers go through in their everyday's lives. The message is simply mind-blowing, outstanding! I highly recommend watching it!

The film is a masterpiece with its cinematography, music scoring, plot, performances by the actors... Endless thanks to everyone who contributed to this: symphony of landscapes, the harmony of notes, the poetry of gazes, the visual feast of the performances, the ocean-depth of emotions.