SmugKitZine Tied for the best movie I have ever seen

StunnaKrypto Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

PiraBit if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

proud_luddite In a small Turkish seaside village, five orphaned, school-age sisters live under the care of their traditional grandmother and uncle. The girls' free spirits lead their elders to force them into a domestic prison and prepare them for arranged marriages.At first glance, one is tempted to compare this film to "Fiddler on the Roof". They both involve five young sisters who have no brothers and the main plot point is to have the girls "married off" according to cultural customs that are outdated and oppressive. The main difference is that in "Fiddler", the villains are outside the family and community; in "Mustang", they are within. (It is also easy to compare this story to "Pride and Prejudice".)Director Deniz Gamze Erguven has done a superb job with her directing debut as she conveys an atmosphere of young, happy spirits conflicting with depressing circumstances. She elicits fine performances especially from Gunes Sansoy as the youngest and most rebellious sister. But the greatest contribution to "Mustang" is its rich screenplay co-written by Erguven and Alice Winocour. It has many gems worth pondering. These include: a beginning and end that meet full circle in a surprising way; a different fate for each of the girls; a bizarre scene in which a bride's virginity is aggressively confirmed. (It might have been hilarious if it weren't so frighteningly close to the truth in many areas of the world - past and present); a scene in which someone "turns lemons into lemonade", using a very bad situation to their advantage.There are also some interesting characterizations in the smaller roles. The grandmother is tyrannical overall (though not nearly as bad as the uncle) but she occasionally shows that she really cares for the girls' well-being. This is best shown in a funny scene involving a televised soccer match. Her sympathies cause an inner-conflict as she has to save face to hold good standing within an oppressive community.Another interesting character is a laid-back, long-haired truck driver. His appearance makes him an outsider; yet, his treatment of women and girls makes him far more pious than certain hypocrites who claim piety.With its broad variety of drama, sadness, humour, lightness, plus a very emotional ending, "Mustang" is truly one of the best films released in 2015.OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: Screenplay by Deniz Gamze Erguven and Alice Winocour

anmesimer The Film Mustang, is probably the best international film I have seen yet! I highly recommend this film for a feminine audience because it is about five young girls. It contained lots of suspense and I was always sympathizing for the girls because of their harsh living conditions. At first, I did not understand why the grandmother imprisoned the girls in the home, but I realized it was because the girls were doing unrighteous acts with boys at the beach. I noticed as each girls would get married, the family of the bride would host the wedding at their house, something that most don't do in the United States. In the United States, most weddings are held at a church or a special place reserved. I noticed that in this film, marriage was portrayed as a very big deal. As each girl came of age, or showed that they have reached womanhood, they would be married off. They didn't have to wait until they were 18, like we do in the U.S. In the United States, it is illegal to be married at any age under 18. In Turkey, marriage would be done as soon as possible. I also noticed that a girl could not get married if she wasn't a virgin. This film contained girls running away, or constantly trying to escape the household because they were under such strict rule. I don't think I would have acted any differently though. If I was living like that I would most likely want to run away, which is what the girls did at the end. I don't think I would have changed anything about the ending of this film because the girls looked at peace when they realized they were finally safe.

okn-syt What a turd of a film! A very good example of orientalist done with all the wrong intentions. It does not reflect anything remotely close to the culture or the region but I don't think its something the so-called director and the script writer would care anyway. I am originally related to the region where the film was set and none of the characters actually behaves, talks or acts anything like those people. It is such an important topic done so careless. I cant even begin to list everything wrong about this picture. Its just so sad that people behind this picture get credit among the most respected platforms in the West. On the other hand, I believe, that was the pure intention of those people after all.. to abuse and exploit a such delicate subject. To sum up in two words: Ugly and fake.

NutterJr Like the digits of a hand, these sisters are one. Their love and bond for one another is pure and complete brought closer together by the tragic loss of their parents and the harsh new realities of a life under the rule of the patriarchal and traditionalist uncle who sets out to arrange marriages for all of them as he fears the local society's judgement on their supposed transgressions which are amplified in his censorious mind. An emotively charged story unfolds in a film with truly mesmerising acting by all girls alike under the direction of what one would expect to be a master filmmaker yet only her first full feature film.