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A wealthy woman who owns a boutique becomes obsessed with a draft manuscript titled “Ashes” (Kül) submitted to her husband’s publication. She starts visiting places mentioned in the book and encounters a carpenter who matches the description of the male protagonist, leading to an affair that culminates in a not very happy ending.
Directed by Erdem Tepegöz, the 2024 Turkish movie “Ashes” (original title: Kül) is a romantic drama with subtle magical realism. Funda Eryigit stars as Gökçe, the beautiful protagonist who appears to have a happy family life with her loving, wealthy husband, and adorable child. However, she develops an almost unhealthy fascination with a book she’s reading, and its hero. M. Alperen Duymaz portrays Metin Ali, a rugged carpenter who becomes the object of Gökçe’s fixation. She begins to stalk him, believing he is the character from the book, and manipulates her way into his life and heart.
“Ashes” is an awkward, boring mish-mash of genres, it pretends to be a literary fantasy romance with forbidden love as its central theme, then morphs into a harebrained thriller with a possible murder plot. Funda Eryigit is gorgeous as Gökçe, but has little chemistry with Alperen Duymaz. This is basically a film about a bored wealthy woman (her boutique is empty most of the time, so not like she has much work) living out a fantasy of having a passionate affair with working class man who doesn’t belong to her world. Gökçe is a hot mess, while Metin Ali looks like a homeless guy who is able to attract a certain type of women towards him.
Perhaps, if “Ashes” had featured more steamy scenes, it might have been easier to forgive its barely-there plot. Unfortunately, there isn’t even enough smut to keep viewers engaged. It feels like half the script was burnt, so the creators made up the rest of the story along the way. With lackluster chemistry and a plot that fizzles, this film fails to ignite the screen.
“Ashes” is available to stream on Netflix.
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