Abandoned Man: A Review

Abandoned Man, now streaming on Netflix, is a Turkish melodrama that opens with a dedication: “for the injured soul and the child of a repairman.” The film quickly shifts into a story that revolves around emotions and relationships. Directed by Cagri Vila Lostuvali, this marks her first feature film, featuring Mert Ramazan Demir, known for the long-running Turkish series Golden Boy, paired with young Ada Elma, who plays Nie. The plot centers on their relationship as they navigate life after a tragedy.

Key Points: Baran (Demir) is just 14 when he is incarcerated, having committed no crime of his own. His older brother Fati (Edip Tepeli) accidentally kills someone in a hit-and-run, leading their father to send Baran away—his reasoning being Baran was a minor, thus receiving a lighter sentence. When the story resumes, we see Baran released from prison 15 years later. It’s oddly abrupt—perhaps too much time has passed to truly delve into the heavy implications of his sentence. Baran, overwhelmed, is left to confront Fati and the chaos surrounding their lives.

With both parents gone, and carrying the weight of his past as an ex-con, Baran finds himself with little more than a few bills and some belongings. Strangely, his young niece Lidya (Elma) forms a bond with him, radiating innocence and drawing out whatever goodness might remain in Baran. Her mother, Azura (Burg Kabra), is wary of Baran, dubbing him a “murderer,” creating an unsettling family dynamic. Financial struggles haunt them all, as Fati’s addiction to alcohol worsens, compounding the family’s troubles. Baran, meanwhile, sits in the background, grappling with his undercurrent of frustration and sadness.

Finding employment proves to be a challenge for Baran, given his past. Yet he dreams of opening an auto repair shop with a fellow ex-con, Esat (Rahimcan Kapkap). Just as he begins to settle into this newfound hope, disaster strikes. Fati is hospitalized after a terrible accident, and Azura dies. Now, Baran must care for Lidya, who, despite her cleverness and attachment to her stuffed giraffe, faces loss and uncertainty. Baran invests all his money into renting a garage, only to discover it’s a scam, leaving him devastated. His situation can’t seem to worsen. But despite everything, the bond he shares with Lidya becomes their saving grace.

What Movies Does This Remind You Of? The film does evoke thoughts of other tearjerkers where familial bonds are tested, perhaps similar to works starring Chris Evans as a concerned uncle helping an orphan.

Performance Worth Watching: Elma’s portrayal stands out. If she can’t captivate the audience with her portrayal of a child’s pure perspective, the film might struggle to resonate on any meaningful level.

Memorable Conversation: At one point, Baran reflects, “When you take your life, you carry that person’s weight with you forever.”

Sex and Skin: None—this film focuses squarely on emotional and familial ties.

Our Take: The narrative of Abandoned Man feels almost too simplistic at times. Whenever Baran and Lidya hit a rough patch, it seems like fate swoops in, favoring them with hints of joy and moments of hardship. While the script by Deniz Madanoglu and Murat Uyurkulak might come off as predictable, it does manage to convey Baran’s psychological struggles effectively. However, this simplicity raises questions about how profound the film tries to be—debates surrounding murder versus accidental killing are barely touched upon. It often feels like the story oversimplifies the emotional complexities involved.

The film doesn’t delve deep into Baran’s feelings or the burdens he carries, instead leaning on the connection he shares with Lidya. Musa, as a supporting character, serves to enrich their dynamic, but at times it feels like the characters are stripped down too much. This results in an experience where viewers might project their own emotions instead of fully engaging with the story. There’s a recurring theme of Baran gazing longingly at a garage where he hopes to build his life anew, which might be the most accurate descriptor of this film.

Our Call: Ultimately, while Abandoned Man offers some sweetness, it falls short of depth. It might be better to give it a pass.