I need to know where Gokce got her outfits, though…
What it's about
Intrigued at an unpublished manuscript from her husband’s publishing firm, wealthy yet dissatisfied Gokce discovers that one of the book’s locations is real, prompting her to continue reading the novel, and jumping into an intoxicating, and possibly dangerous, affair.
The take
When life imitates art unexpectedly, it can be thrilling, exciting, and maybe even dangerous. As dissatisfied wife Gokce finds an unpublished novel, we hoped that her eventual escapades would be similarly riveting, but sadly, Ashes isn’t thrilling. Part of it is because the first half is just dedicated to pretty images that don’t even feel particularly steamy, but mostly this stems from the fact that Ashes hasn’t formulated a coherent plotline for the manuscript Gokce was reading, so all the twists and turns in the second half feels more randomly tossed, than carefully set up as a surprise.
What stands out
The shots of Ashes are stunning, but these images might have been more powerful if they were made for an emotionally and logically coherent script. Honestly, it feels like they were just trying to compile as many beautiful scenes as they can for someone’s videography portfolio.
Comments
Add a comment
Your name
Your comment
UP NEXT
UP NEXT
UP NEXT
More like this in
Head-On (Gegen die Wand) (2004)
This raw, punk drama about a star-crossed love in modern Germany is as timely now as it was when it came out
9.3
Welcome (2009)
7.1
Casting Blossoms to the Sky (2012)
A moving, haunting tribute to the ordinary lives lost to war and disaster, and the love that remains in spite of it
8.2
Housekeeping for Beginners (2024)
At once understated and powerful, this Macedonian drama shines a necessary light on the complexity of found families
7.8
Secret Sunshine (2007)
A grieving woman deals with the worst of fates in this challenging, disquieting riverside drama
7.6
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)
A star-studded and riveting legal drama with a blockbuster feel.
8.1
The Guilty (2018)
A minimalist, razor-sharp thriller that will have you gasping for air.
9.0
Forgotten Love (2023)
The stunning third take of the classic Polish pre-war melodrama
7.7
System Crasher (2019)
A tale of trauma and one of the most talked about movies on Netflix in 2020.
9.0
Infamous (2006)
A slightly embellished, often compared, retelling that depicts the classic novelist’s larger-than-life spirit