Moon and Stars Project and The American Turkish Society are proud to 
co-represent “Pandora’s Box” at Tribeca Film Festival

Pandora’s Box (Pandora’nın Kutusu)
2008 | 112 min | Feature Narrative
In Turkish with English subtitles

“Pic's unemphasized clash between old and new provides fascinating glimpses of a country in transition. Ninety-year-old Chelton slips much deadpan humor into her otherwise utterly respectful portrayal, with other thesps fine in support.”
Eddie Cockrell (Variety)

“What begins as another tale of a missing loved one, Turkish art-film director Yesim Ustaoglu’s "Pandora’s Box" thankfully takes a completely different tact.
… As several filmmakers appear to acknowledge this year: Sometimes you just have to let those loved ones go up the mountain.”
Anthony Kaufman (Indiewire – Toronto ’08 Critics Notebook)

The latest from award-winning Turkish master Yesim Ustaoglu (Journey to the Sun) is a gorgeous, expertly developed cross-generational dramedy. Three adult siblings—Nesrin, Güzin, and Mehmet—lead modern, neurotic, and preoccupied lives in Istanbul. But when their aging mother Nusret starts showing signs of dementia, the dysfunctional children must navigate a minefield of unresolved issues to care for her. They take the aging matriarch (90-year-old French actress Tsilla Chelton) away from her home on the Black Sea—for her own good, they think—but hectic Istanbul is the last place Nusret would like to be. In fact, her final wish is to be left alone in the mountains surrounding her home.

The unlikeliest candidate for the Nusret’s final companion is her aloof and introspective grandson Murat. He mysteriously understands her desires, and in return she allows him to guide her back to her serene village, with its lush and breathtaking views. A tale primarily exploring modernity versus tradition, the need for stuff versus the need for nature, Pandora’s Box is a thoughtful, perfectly paced addition to Ustaoglu’s impressive repertoire of films. For her poignant, career-capping performance, Chelton was named best actress at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, where the film also won top prize.    --Sara Nodjoumi

Festivals and Awards

2008 Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival: Best Supporting Actress, Övül Avkıran
2008 San Sebastian International Film Festival: Best Actress “Silver Shell” (Tsilla Chelton) and  Best Film “Golden Shell”
2008 Thessaloniki International Film Festival
2008 Toronto International Film Festival
2008 Amiens International Film Festival
2008 Festival on Wheels, Kars-Turkey
2008 NHK Asian Film Festival

Photo by
Muammer Yanmaz

Yeşim Ustaoğlu made several award-winning shorts in Turkey before making her feature debut with 1994’s Iz (The Track). She received international recognition for her 1999 film Günese Yolculuk (Journey to the Sun, which received the Blue Angel Award for best European film and the Peace Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival. The moving story of a courageous friendship undaunted by political cruelty swept the Istanbul International Film Festival by winning best film, best director, the FIPRESCI prize, and the Audience Award. Her follow-up Bulutlari Beklerken (Waiting for the Clouds) was awarded the Sundance/NHK International Filmmakers Award and the DAAD scholarship.

Filmography

1984 Bir Ani Yakalamak (kisa) / To Catch a Moment (short)
1987 Magnafantanga (short)
1990 Düet (kisa) / Duet (short)
1992 Otel (kisa) / Hotel (short)
1994 Iz / The Trace
1999 Günese Yolculuk / Journey to the Sun
2004 Bulutlari Beklerken / Waiting for the Clouds
2004 Sirtlarindaki Hayat (belgesel) / Life on their Shoulders (documentary)
2008 Pandora’nin Kutusu / Pandora’s Box

Screenings
Fri, Apr 24, 5:30PM
AMC Village VII 2

Sun, Apr 26, 10:15PM
AMC Village VII 7

Mon, Apr 27, 10:30PM
AMC Village VII 5

To purchase tickets, please visit Tribeca Film Festival’s website.