MUSTANG

MUSTANG – Turkey, France, Qatar, Germany, 2015, 97 min, Drama

Director:  Deniz Gamze Ergüven

Writers: Deniz Gamze Ergüven, Alice Winocour

Cast: Günes Nezihe Sensoy, Doga Zeynep Doguslu, Tugba Sunguroglu, Elit Iscan, Ilayda Akdogan

Five underage sisters are imprisoned in their house by their family for their free-spirited behaviour which is considered boldly arrogant in a highly conservative patriarchical environment.

Early summer in a small village in northern Turkey. Five orphans – Lale and her four sisters – are playing with their male peers on the beach on their way back home from school. They are not aware that their innocent games will lead to a scandal of unexpected repercussions. The girls are accused of indecent behaviour by their own family – their grandma and their uncle – who basically imprison them in their house. The house windows are fitted with bars and the girls’ phones and computers are taken away. The girls are no longer free and their school lessons are replaced with household chores in preparation for their future duties as wives. The sisters are being married off, one by one.

While the elderly sisters are already in arranged marriages, the younger ones bond with each other as they are trying to prevent another forced marriage. The strong sisterly love empowers them to get their lives back and be in charge of their own future.

AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS

• Oscar Nomination for Best Foreign Film – 2019
• Golden Globe Nomination – 2019
• Cannes Film Festival, 2015 – Europa Cinemas Label Award and 2 Nominations
• European Film Awards, 2015 – 1 Award and 2 Nominations
• Awards and Nominations from numerous film festivals
• International Film Festival Love is Folly, 2016 – Golden Aphrodite