Parents' Guide to Last Call for Istanbul

Last Call for Istanbul begins with a lie and for the entire film, the audience waits for its explanation. Sadly, that explanation is disappointing and unbelievable. Kivanc Tatlitug and Beren Saat are excellent as a couple in various stages of their passionate, committed, and then rocky relationship. But their charisma alone cannot turn the disjointed, non-chronological jumble into a coherent narrative. When they first lay eyes on each other at the carousel, we hear their thoughts, and they both feel as if they already know each other. As the story proceeds, this gimmick feels indefensibly dishonest. A retrospective Big Reveal refers to an elaborate charade they've engaged in to save their marriage. But since one of them wants out and pursues the marriage's end ruthlessly, it seems incredible that party would make the effort to reconcile by participating in the absurdly convoluted plot presented here. Never mind that one of them has packed both wallet and cellphone in a checked suitcase, something no one in their right mind would ever do. Yet the shaky plot depends on this bit of lunacy.

Similarly, Serin, with her new job and apartment in New York City, makes an inexplicable decision at the end of the story, ignoring the fact that lack of freedom is what made her unhappy in the marriage. Ultimately, the movie is wrapped around a silly premise that crumbles under the slightest bit of scrutiny.