30/08/2013 - The loss of identity of a family after the unexpected death of the father is the central theme of Turkish director Deniz Akçay’s film debut, presented during Venice Days

A mother who spends her days in front of television. Two teenagers, one an attention seeker and the other rebelling. An older daughter carrying the weight of responsibility on her shoulders. The story Turkish director Deniz Akçay tells is one of a dysfunctional family. The film is called Nobody's Home [+see also:
trailer
interview: Deniz Akcay
film profile] and it is part of the Venice Days selection at the Venice Film Festival. The title could not be more on point. Family members have lost their sense of identity and any sense of belonging ever since they lost their father. Everyone reacts in their own way, consumed by their own personal drama. 

Nobody's Home is an unforgiving film. The only ray of light in the oldest daughter’s life, her marriage, is seen by the others as a betrayal. Especially by the mother, Nurcan, who cannot bring herself to take control of her household, to find a direction, to rise again after this fall. Youngest daughter Ozde is put in charge of grocery shopping. When Nurcan has plumbing problems, she calls her oldest daughter Feride and cries. And she has no idea how to stop her teenage son, Ilker, as he drifts away. Ilker meanwhile, is having an affair with the mother of one of his friends from school and smokes hashish.

Feride is desperate but is trying to stay strong. She is forced to take care of her family, but doesn’t want to. The only central figure is the maternal grandmother, full of wisdom and tradition, who recalls Nurcan to basic everyday activities. “Cook for your children,” she tells her as she unpacks shopping bags. And it is in his grandmother’s arms that Ilker finally manages to cry.

Is there any hope for these people’s future? The film doesn’t seem to give any. Deep down, Feride goes from one prison to the next, marrying a man she does not love. “You were born unlucky,” Nurcan says. The cruelty of a depressed mother can be immense. Tragedy is just around the corner, and Nobody's Home lets us see this tragedy, in all its inescapability.  

(Translated from Italian)