Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Comic tale of man wanting to kill wife is awful; language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Leyla Everlasting
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Adem (Haluk Bilginer) and Leyla (Demet Akbag) have enjoyed a long marriage when we meet them in LEYLA EVERLASTING. Both in their 60s, they consult a clueless and self absorbed marriage therapist named Nergis (Elcin Sangu). "I don't like to think. It's not good for my brain," she complains. "I feel depressed when I think about anything but myself," she also admits. Therapy is further complicated by the fact that Nergis and Adem are having a torrid affair. He wants a divorce from Leyla, as well as all their money, and decides that arranging a fatal "accident" for Leyla would clear the way for marriage with the far younger therapist. After Leyla survives nine comic attempts on her life, including death by falling grandfather clock, we learn she's an immortal, the woman created before Eve, also known as Lilith, and she has been through this all before. Will Adem ever be free?
Is It Any Good?
At nearly two hours, Leyla Everlasting feels too long, but its lack of focus and contradictory points of view about men and women make it nearly incomprehensible, if not entirely pointless. This is an example of self indulgent filmmaking at its worst from a writer-director demonstrating no clear grasp of fundamental concepts like pacing, character development, logical consistency, storytelling, or how to support flailing actors.
The material comes from a Turkish stage play and perhaps the cultural jump to America is the problem, but it would be difficult to imagine this working in any language or culture. Perhaps this is a treat for Turkish viewers familiar with the well-known Bilginer and Akbag (she's a great dancer). Perhaps in Turkey these highly competent performers draw viewers in. We might enjoy Meryl Streep and Morgan Freeman mugging and chewing scenery in a screwball comedy, too. But those unfamiliar with these Turkish stars will writhe in empathetic discomfort for their plight. No one should have to be in a movie this bad.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how to make sense of the warring messages of this movie. Women are presented as scheming, shallow, and manipulative, but also wise and all-knowing, far more enlightened than men, who are only interested in showing women their love by killing. Do you find any of this believable? Why or why not?
How do magic and otherworldly powers fuel the action? Do they draw you in or raise questions about the movie's premises?
Do the pronouncements about innate female and male traits feel convincing or contradictory? What do you think the movie wants you to think about women and men?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : December 4, 2020
- Cast : Haluk Bilginer , Demet Akbag , Elcin Sangu , Firat Tanis
- Director : Ezel Akay
- Inclusion Information : Middle Eastern/North African Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 112 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : August 1, 2022
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