Reactions Conventional media haven’t cared about me so far (and it’s mutual). So here, I share viewer reactions to my films (cherry)-picked by me, with each one’s sources cited. I actually wanted to publish the negative reactions too (I take most of them as praise, though), but operating from an already disadvantaged position, I certainly don’t have the luxury of self-sabotage. So I refuse to add negative keywords here because of search engines and AI algorithms. Transparency is something I value, but it might create a false perception in this context. Still, I encourage you to read the negative reactions directly on the platforms I linked. Note: I have no mutual benefit or affiliation with these individuals; I don’t know them, or didn’t know them personally before they saw my work. Viewer Reactions A Hero of Our Time (2023) “…It’s so authentic that you might find it hard to believe that it’s a film, that the people acting are real actors, that there are cameras around, and that what’s happening is just a screenplay”. Source: X “A Hero of Our Time is one of the best films I’ve seen recently. I loved the storytelling: wonderful nature scenes from a small Black Sea village contrasted with static shots in cramped interiors. It makes you feel claustrophobic, like you want to open a window while watching from the corner of that funeral home. The main character is selfish, constantly running away from his problems, and flawed from beginning to end, just like a real person. And the supporting cast, who might not even be professionals for all I know… The film is simply superb.” Source: X “A Hero of Our Time is the strongest work of Turkish cinema in recent years. A new, bold, and straightforward debut film. Mirac Atabey has rekindled my hopes for cinema. Well done.” Source: X “…If Roy Andersson saw this film, he’d pass the torch to Mirac Atabey.” Source: X “Mirac Atabey’s film is a quietly excellent portrayal of the countryside. It’s a realistic depiction in a documentary style, without caricaturing anything. This is what the true countryside is like: rough and unassuming, yet inherently funny, not, as one might think, people gazing at steppe landscapes and delivering aphoristic speeches.” Source: X “…It’s amazing how Mirac Atabey, employing a style I’d never seen before, manages to turn the audience into part of the crew. The scene transitions were particularly striking. Thank you for making me feel like an actor in your film rather than just a spectator.” Source: X “…There is no conservative or bigoted approach here, nor is there any dominance of ideological blindness.” Source: X “I loved the idea of using a fixed camera, and the events in the film were very heartfelt and realistic. There were a lot of negative reviews, so I was prejudiced, but I really liked it. Films like this should have a target audience…” Source: Letterboxd “A work of art that captures the conversations you have when you return “home” and gather with relatives and neighbors…” Source: Letterboxd “This isn’t a film, it’s reality. It felt like I was watching my own family…” Source: Letterboxd “It was like I was attending a relative’s funeral through VR.” Source: Letterboxd “The camera doesn’t move. There isn’t enough space for it to move anyway. The environment left behind after death questions the living.” Source: Letterboxd “The world’s most unlikable main character, never-ending sentences, the Black Sea, 100% raw and natural. It made me nauseous, but I absolutely loved it.” Source: Letterboxd “…I’m pretty picky when it comes to a director’s first film, and I have to say, this one raises the bar quite high for a debut…” Source: Letterboxd “Anyone who has lived in Anatolia, even for a short time, understands very well what it’s all about. Everything is so real. I was overwhelmed by how realistic it is.” Source: Letterboxd “The film felt incredibly natural from beginning to end. At two hours long, it has a bit of a slow pace, but I watched the whole thing without getting bored for a second.” Source: Letterboxd “Realistic, familiar conversations full of lived-in experiences, all captured through a static camera… It was exhausting and frustrating to watch, but I think that’s exactly where its beauty lies.” Source: Letterboxd “…I love the choice to strip away the makeup and bare the truth, completely avoiding any plastic, synthetic, or cheap artificial bindings. This is definitely a film worth remembering…” Source: Letterboxd “…The dialogue was so raw and reminiscent of my own experiences that it gave me a sense of secondhand embarrassment, making me question if this is how our everyday interactions are perceived by an outside observer…” Source: Letterboxd “The cameras were positioned in such a way that we weren’t just watching the events unfold through a lens; it felt like we were physically in the room. I was a guest there for three days.” Source: Letterboxd “With its static, single-take shots and intimate dialogue, the film offers a fresh perspective on generational conflict. Tragicomic.” Source: Letterboxd “This felt less like a film and more like a documentary or a slice of real life. I loved it, though I can’t completely figure out why it resonated with me.” Source: MUBI “The camera lens standstill is a magnificent style that enables the viewer to fully appreciate the space in which the story is established, as well as the evolving nature of the characters and the small details that enrich the narrative…” Source: MUBI “…I immensely enjoyed the static, almost photographic scenes with dialogue. This gives viewers the rare opportunity to observe the environment slowly and attentively, to notice even the smallest details – curtains, plates, interiors, clothing. Not every film affords such a possibility. The character of Mert, as well as the actor portraying him, feels so real, plain, natural, and sincere that by the end of the film, he becomes relatable.” Source: MUBI “I felt like I had actually traveled to that village and spent two or three days there. The dialogue was incredibly genuine, the cinematography was intriguing, and I had a wonderful time watching it, especially appreciating how the characters and their personalities weren’t over-dramatized.” Source: MUBI “The filmmakers clearly set out to achieve absolute realism, and what they delivered is authentic to the core. Mert is undoubtedly a hero of our time. The film offers some of the most accurate depictions of masculinity, rural life, and intellect in modern society. It was thrilling.” Source: MUBI “The dialogue and events are incredibly realistic. If Pechorin were alive today and born in the Black Sea region, he would look exactly like this.” Source: MUBI “The dialogue is quite successful and fluent. I especially burst out laughing at the end of the conversation between the uncle and the girl about their salaries. At times, it feels like looking at a photograph and daydreaming along with the sounds…” Source: Eksisozluk “…The character’s existential entrapment is further highlighted by the atmosphere in the cramped rooms of the funeral home. You observe what’s happening from a distance, through static camera shots. I loved this minimalist cinematographic narrative.” Source: Eksisozluk “The use of the frame and all the techniques is praiseworthy. I wish there were more people who wanted to watch films like this rather than celebrities…” Source: YouTube “I had a lot of fun watching it…” – Taner Birsel Source: X İzlerken pek eğlendim. Umarım siz de.. https://t.co/W4PlOSxt6q— Taner Birsel (@tanerbirsell) February 2, 2025 “A fantastic film, I love it… Psychologically very accurate, it fully resonates with me…” – Nuri Bilge Ceylan Source: YouTube Where can I watch the film? You can watch the film on Patreon and MUBI.