Russell Crowe (who also makes his directing debut) plays an Australian farmer who travels to Turkey to find his 3 sons, who go missing after the Battle of Gallipoli. While his search is the driving force in the film, his encounters with the country’s culture add an interesting second layer. This event in the early 1900s isn’t well known to most of us, so the conflicts with the occupying countries add yet another level. The challenges that this complexity presents have been met with Crowe’s heavy directorial hand. The drama is compelling, but occasionally over the top and other times tasteful. The sometimes abrupt editing and forceful soundtrack are more a distraction than an asset. A bit too ambitious for a first effort, but not bad. (Criterion Cinema only)

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