Mustang drives us through the two dimensional facade of patriarchy in Turkish culture

The film was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards. But did it live up to its hype?

Mustang is the internationally co-produced film directed by Turkish/ French filmmaker Deniz Gamze Ergüven.

The film takes place in a Turkish village and depicts the lives of five free-spirited young girls who are confined into a house for illicit behaviour by their elders. But with their fierce love for one another, they feel empowered and end up creating a bond that can’t be broken by any force created by the conservative antagonists.

The film was screened at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival and was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards. But could this film live up to its hype?

Elit Iscan, Günes Sensoy, Doga Zeynep Doguslu, Tugba Sunguroglu and Ilayda Akdogan.Photo: Screenshot

Elit Iscan, Günes Sensoy, Doga Zeynep Doguslu, Tugba Sunguroglu and Ilayda Akdogan.Photo: Screenshot

Günes Sensoy and Ilayda Akdogan.Photo: Screenshot

Günes Sensoy.Photo: Screenshot

Doga Zeynep Doguslu.Photo: Screenshot

Ilayda Akdogan.Photo: Screenshot

Elit Iscan, Günes Sensoy, Doga Zeynep Doguslu, Tugba Sunguroglu and Ilayda Akdogan.Photo: Screenshot

Günes Sensoy.Photo: Screenshot

Elit Iscan, Günes Sensoy, Doga Zeynep Doguslu, Tugba Sunguroglu and Ilayda Akdogan.Photo: Screenshot

Günes Sensoy and Doga Zeynep Doguslu.Photo: Screenshot

Elit Iscan, Günes Sensoy, Doga Zeynep Doguslu, Tugba Sunguroglu and Ilayda Akdogan.Photo: Screenshot