Mustang (2015) | agoodmovietowatch

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Mustang 8.1 2015 Movie

Mustang

Dir. Deniz Gamze Ergüven & Female director · France, Germany · Turkish

Our take by Tara Goe

Five orphaned sisters are put under house arrest by their uncle and grandmother after they are seen horsing around with local boys from school. While their actions were purely innocent, their behavior is viewed as scandalous and shameful by the conservative elders in their small Turkish village. After this incident, their grandmother turns her attention towards marrying off her granddaughters. Each of the five sisters rebel in their own way, but it is the youngest and rowdiest sister, Lale, who is the central protagonist of the film. She watches helplessly as each of her older sisters is married off with an increasing sense of dread and desperation. While this may sound hopelessly depressing, the movie is equal parts beautiful and tragic and floats across the screen in a dreamlike manner. Not all of the sisters escape their oppressive surroundings or their assigned fate, but the message is clear: it’s crucial to try.

What happens

In a Turkish village, five orphaned sisters live under strict rule while members of their family prepare their arranged marriages.

What the critics said

Notable Critics

""Mustang" is the dbut feature of Deniz Gamze Ergven, and it's quite something: a coming-of-age fable mapped onto a prison break, at once dream-hazed and sharp-edged with suspense."

— Anthony Lane

"Ergven films their blossoming bodies with the same unyielding energy and liberates her narrative-a skillful blend of tragedy and fable-from genre constraints, crafting her own brand of magical realism instead."

— Yonca Talu

Awards

Oscars

1 nom

Nominated: Best Foreign Language Film

Cannes

1 win · 2 noms

Won: Label Europa CinemasNominated: Caméra d’OrNominated: Queer Palm

Golden Globes

1 nom

Nominated: Best Motion Picture: Foreign Language

BAFTA

1 nom

Nominated: Best Film not in the English Language

Spirit Awards

1 nom

Nominated: Best International Film

Nat. Board of Review

1 win

Won: Freedom of Expression Award

European Film Awards

1 win · 2 noms

Won: European DiscoveryNominated: EFA People's Choice AwardNominated: European Film

César Awards

4 wins · 5 noms

Won: Best EditingWon: Best First WorkWon: Best Original MusicWon: Best Original ScreenplayNominated: Best CinematographyNominated: Best Costume DesignNominated: Best DirectorNominated: Best FilmNominated: Best Sound

Goya Awards

1 win

Won: Best European Film

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About the author

Tara Goe

Tara Goe is a contributing writer at A Good Movie to Watch, reviewing films and shows across the major streaming services. Her work helps readers find overlooked titles worth their time.