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Kerr
Kerr
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Tayfun Pirselimoğlu
Written by	Tayfun Pirselimoğlu;
Produced by	Vildan Erşen
Starring	Erdem Şenocak; Jale Arıkan; Rıza Akın;
Cinematography	Andreas Sinanos;
Edited by	Ali Agha;
Music by	Nikos Kypourgos
Production; companies	Gataki Movie; Bad Crowd; Arizona Films Productions;
Distributed by	Another Cinema
Release dates	October 2021 (AGOFF); 22 April 2022 (Turkey);
Running time	100 minutes
Countries	Turkey; Greece; France;
Language	Turkish
Box office	₺121,091

Kerr is a 2021 Turkish-language thriller drama film written and directed by Tayfun Pirselimoğlu. The film based on his eponymous novel, follows Can, who witnessed a murder in the village for his father's funeral.^[2] It had its premiere in October 2021 at the 58th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival.^[3]

It was selected as the Turkish entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards, but was not nominated.^[4]

Plot

Can is stranded in the town where his father had a tailor shop. He came to attend his funeral but witnessed a murder at the station's men's room. Can alerted the police, however, the police, the coastal town officials and citizens, seemed more interested in his whereabouts and reason for visiting than investigating the crime. The situation became worse when the town is put under strict quarantine due to a rabies outbreak caused by dogs attacking and killing people. Over the top Can gets falsely accused of something. The absurdity of the situation, reminiscent of Franz Kafka's The Trial, is further compounded by other peculiarities: the house Can inherited leaks, his father's old car won't start but gets stolen, and the only woman in town (Jale Arıkan), poses philosophical questions and answers simple ones with even more philosophical counter-questions.

Cast

Erdem Şenocak as Can
Jale Arıkan as the only woman in town
Rıza Akın
Gafur Uzuner
Ali Seçkiner
Melih Düzenli
Sinan Bengier
Muttalip Müjdeci
Hakki Kurtulus
Tansu Biçer as funeral service

Release

Kerr competed in the 58th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival held from 2 October to 9 October 2021,^[5] where it won Golden Orange Best Director Award as well as FİLM-YÖN (Film Directors’ Association) Best Director Award, and Best Music Award.^[6] It also competed in 37th edition of Warsaw International Film Festival in the 'International Competition' section held from 8 to 17 October 2021.^[7]

In 2022, it was selected in the 41st International Istanbul Film Festival and was screened on 18 April.^[8]

The film was also selected in 'Non Premiere Feature Films' section at the 38th edition of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival held from 8 February to 18 February 2023.^[9] It was also screened at the Belgrade International Film Festival on 3 March 2023.^[10]

Reception

Critical response

Marko Stojiljković reviewing for Asian Movie Pulse wrote, "All things considered, Kerr is a film on the verge of the masterpiece, a rich tapestry of the very well known and the eye-opening details, connections, references, metaphors and symbols." Stojiljković added, "It is a hell of a ride and something that simply has to be experienced."^[11] Kino Avant-Garde giving a positive review rated the film 4/5 and praised the direction, cinematography and editing of the film. They wrote, "the director and the cinematographer should definitely be congratulated for the mise-en-scene and cinematography; frames, horizontal-vertical elements, perspective, light, camera angles, each one is admirable." Praising editor they said, "a masterpiece of editing technique; With the transition from the car radio to the radio station with a sound bridge, he bids us farewell from the subconscious and from the movie, it’s only the music that remains."^[12]

Awards and nominations

The film was nominated for Greek Minority Co-Production Award at the Hellenic Film Academy Awards in 2023.^[13]

Award	Date of ceremony	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref.
Warsaw Film Festival	8 October 2021	Best Film	Kerr	Nominated	^[14]
Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival	9 October 2021	Best Director	Tayfun Pirselimoğlu	Won	^[15]
		Best Music	Nikos Kypourgos	Won
		Turkish Film Directors’ Ass. Award	Tayfun Pirselimoğlu	Won
International Istanbul Film Festival	19 April 2022	Best Director	Tayfun Pirselimoğlu	Won	^[16]
International Istanbul Film Festival	19 April 2022	Best Art Director	Natali Yeres	Won	^[16]
Asian World Film Festival	13 November 2022	Best Feature Cinematography	Andreas Sinanos	Won	^[17]

References

^ "Kerr" [Box Office Kerr]. Box Office Türkiye (in Turkish). Retrieved 23 October 2023.
^ "Kerr". Cineuropa. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
^ Economou, Vassilis (11 October 2021). "Ferit Karahan's Brother's Keeper wins at the 58th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival". Cineuropa. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
^ "European titles submitted for the Oscars race". Cineuropa. 2 November 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
^ Economou, Vassilis (28 September 2021). "The 58th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival unveils its selection". Cineuropa. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
^ "Awards Announced at Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival!". Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival. 9 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
^ "FESTIVALS: Warsaw Film Festival 2021 Announces Lineup". FilmNewEurope. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
^ "Kerr Director: Tayfun Pirselimoğlu". Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
^ Scott Feinberg (18 January 2023). "Santa Barbara Film Fest: Lineup Revealed for 38th Edition". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
^ "51. International film festival: Kerr". Belgrade International Film Festival. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
^ Stojiljković, Marko (11 March 2023). "Review: Kerr (2021) by Tayfun Pirselimoglu". Asian Movie Pulse. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
^ "Kerr (2021)". Kino Avant-Garde. 30 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
^ "Υποψηφιότητες" [14th Hellenic Film Academy Award: Nominations]. Hellenic Film Academy Award (in Greek). 29 June 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
^ Salwa, Ola (7 October 2021). "The 37th Warsaw Film Festival is all set to kick off". Cineuropa. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
^ "2021 Awards and Juries" [58th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival Awards Winners]. Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival (in Turkish). 9 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
^ "41. İstanbul Film Festivali Ödülleri Kazananları" [41st Istanbul Film Festival Awards Winners]. Vouge (in Turkish). 20 April 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
^ "2022 Award Winners". Asian World Film Festival (in Turkish). 13 November 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2023.