Set in a climate of distrust where the state demands absolute — if not blind — loyalty and the only options are to adapt or rebel, Edge of Night is the captivating debut of writer-director Türker Süer.
Brothers Kenan (Berk Hakman) and Sinan (Ahmet Rıfat Şungar) Yeşilyaprak, both officers in the Turkish army, have been conflicted since birth. Their father was a prominent — later persecuted — general and their mother a member of the oft-discriminated-against Kurdish minority.
The two have grown apart over the years, yet both carry a heavy burden of guilt related to the part each played in the death of their father. Sinan, now a rising young lieutenant, has been summoned to hand over Kenan to a military court for a trial that will likely lead to a very long prison sentence for his actions against state interests. Navigating a long journey through a divided land and an ever-shifting landscape, the brothers are unaware that a storm is underway. Set on July 15, 2016 when a faction within the Turkish Armed Forces attempted a coup against the democratically elected government, citing the erosion of secularism, elimination of democratic rule, and disregard for human rights, the men’s fates will soon be in the hands of history.
Edge of Night, shot by Matteo Cocco’s attentive lens and propelled by Ozan Tekin’s score, is the captivating debut of writer-director Türker Süer. Set in a climate of distrust, where the state demands absolute — if not blind — loyalty and the only options are to adapt or rebel, this gripping story of two brothers, who must ultimately choose between blood and country, is impeccably crafted, timely, and unmissable.
DOROTA LECH
Screenings
Scotiabank 6
Scotiabank 4
Scotiabank 10
Scotiabank 4