“Ashes” is more grey dirt than fire in Netflix’s new Turkish romance/thriller.
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“Ashes” Plot Summary
“Ashes” speaks to the lonely housewife who gets no gosh darn respect in the home. The Turkish drama/romance “Ashes” establishes that the lonely spouse is a global phenomenon but takes big swings in logic that leave you dissatisfied with the romance and the mystery at its core. Ultimately, “Ashes” seems like a movie unsure of what it wants to be and rarely suspends the viewer’s disbelief.
“Ashes” opens with Gökçe (Funda Eryigit), a woman who spends her days in her husband’s shadow. While she has all the material possessions she could possibly want, she seems lost and dissatisfied with her love and life. Her husband, Kenan (Mehmet Günsür), seems more occupied with his work than his wife’s happiness. When Gökçe picks up a random manuscript titled “Ashes” that was mysteriously left at the house, she becomes obsessed with its story and determined to find out if the story is true.
The story in the manuscript is about a love affair between a woman and a carpenter named “M.” Call it escapism or searching for some meaning in her life, but Gökçe identifies with the woman and, for some damn reason, thinks that M is real. She visits the coffee shop in the manuscript, and lo and behold, she also meets a carpenter named Metin (Alperen Duymaz). While Gökçe is immediately smitten and attracted to this stranger, Metin mumbles and groans his way through their conversation. But the two spend more time together and have forced and awkward conversations. But as Gökçe spends more time away from home and with Metin, Kenan starts to get upset and suspect that there may be more behind this manuscript than meets the eye.
While the acting and direction in “Ashes” are all competent and well-executed, the script is a mess. The romance is underdeveloped, and each character’s actions feel like they only serve the plot rather than how someone would normally behave. There’s a moment where Gökçe drops the “Ashes” manuscript on the table and declares, “It’s overdramatic and amateurish, and the ending doesn’t work.” I believe she was talking about the actual movie too.
Content Information
“Ashes” is rated TV-MA for profanity, sex, and mild violence.
Other Noteworthy Information
- Titled “Kül” in Turkish.
“Ashes” General Information
| Director | Erdem Tepegöz |
| Screenplay By | Erdi Isik |
| Date Released | February 19, 2024 |
| How To Watch | Netflix |
| Genre(s) | Drama
Non-English (Turkish) |
| Film Length | 1 Hour, 40 Minutes |
| Content Rating | Rated TV-MA |
| Noted Characters and Cast | |
| Gökçe | Funda Eryigit |
| Metin Ali | Alperen Duymaz |
| Kenan | Mehmet Günsür |
Character Descriptions
Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.
Gökçe (Funda Eryigit)
Gökçe is a woman who seemingly has it all: a luxurious house, a career, a family, and wealth. But she’s dissatisfied with her lack of identity and finds escape in a mysterious manuscript called “Ashes” that describes a romantic man named M.
Metin (Alperen Duymaz)
Metin is a carpenter in a small town. His work is his main priority in life, but when he meets Gökçe, he begins to enjoy sharing his pastime with someone else. Yet Metin has a few secrets of his own.
Kenan (Mehmet Günsür)
Kenan is a successful book publisher, but while he excels at his work, he ignores the needs of his wife, Gökçe. Once he notices her absence, he begins to grow suspicious of her whereabouts.
“Ashes” Review
Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)
Let us know your thoughts in the comments:
- What did you think of “Ashes”? Is it a spicy drama or a tame affair?
Low Points
No Romantic Chemistry Between the Leads
Sure, the two leads in “Ashes” are good-looking but they never have a real moment where they bond. Metin grunts his way through conversation and shows her a rooftop and good food, but what connects the two? “Ashes” doesn’t give a reason why the two should be passionate about each other to start.
“Ashes” Relies Too Much on Characters Acting Dumb
Why the heck would Gökçe believe that a fictional character is real? How come no one questions who wrote the manuscript until halfway through the movie? How come Gökçe is reading the manuscript at all? Why does Kenan not tell his wife about the danger she faces and instead sets up an elaborate scheme to get everyone together? No one really seems to think their actions through in “Ashes” and barely gives us an explanation for why they act the way that they do.
On The Fence
Slow Buildup of Climax Leaves Viewers Ahead of the Movie
While you may wonder how “Ashes” ends, you’re unfortunately already asking the questions that “Ashes” poses halfway through. The shift from romance to mystery is refreshing, and we’re curious about the final answers, but no one really acts like a normal human to empathize with or make the story believable.
Good If You Like
- Spicy romance.
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