Noah Land

Suffering through a mid-life crisis, Omer reluctantly goes on a trip to his hometown with his dying father. It is his father’s wish to be buried beneath a specific tree. Something special is going on with the tree, which was planted by the father himself when he was young, or so he claims. Having arrived, it appears the tree is a place of pilgrimage, since it is believed to be planted 4000 years ago by Noah (yes, from the ark). Of course this leads to a conflict with the family ‘running’ this place of pilgrimage presently, especially with the sons who curse them and threaten them during their stay.

But a lot also seems amiss between father and son. The bitter understanding we see in unspoken details, resonates even more in the scenes. To give just one example: with careful planning, Omer sticks a gum on the lock mechanism of his car, so his father is forced to sit on the back seat (and the corona-distance rule is not applicable here). Omer also appears to be in the middle of divorcing his pregnant wife, Elif. He can see his world crumbling and does not want to take responsibility for any of it. Slowly his loud defence mechanism transforms into introspection and a rebuilding of connection.

The film is enveloped in beautiful cinematography, with moving dialogue and a multi-layered story. A story about a father, a son, and a special tree that becomes more gripping and contemplative as time goes on. A debut feature with strong roots.