Bal
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Metascore
70 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 5 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.7 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6 Ratings

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  • Summary: A first year schoolboy, the sensitive Yusuf lives with his beekeeper father Yakup and pretty young mother Zehra in an isolated region in Northeast Turkey , bordering a magical forest where Yakup places his specially made hves and makes a living gathering prized black honey. Yusuf often accompanies his father, whom he greatly loves and admires, on these trips and they share a special bond, not only with each other but with the mystical countryside. However, with his family's livelihood endangered by the progressive disappearance of bees, Yakup has no choice but to venture into more treacherous mountainous areas to hang his hives. Days pass and Yakup does not return. Distraught, Yusuf slips into silence but finally summons all his courage and alone, runs deep into the forest to search for his father. (Olive Films)

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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Andy Webster
    Mar 24, 2011
    80
    It has no musical soundtrack (and barely any dialogue), only a quiet, unforced, organic rhythm. And those spellbinding images. Like the viewer, Mr. Kaplanoglu is quite happy to let nature do the talking and cast a lyrical, mysterious spell.
  2. New York Post
    Reviewed by: V.A. Musetto
    Mar 25, 2011
    75
    A thoughtful and intelligent film, and should appeal to adventurous souls.
  3. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Sam Adams
    Mar 24, 2011
    75
    Bal mingles the bitter and the sweet, but it gets mired in its own stickiness.
  4. Time Out New York
    Reviewed by: David Fear
    Mar 22, 2011
    60
    Bal's familiarity doesn't breed contempt. It does make you wish, however, for something above and beyond the usual high-art-cinema catnip.

See all 5 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. FUNTALK
    10
    There is one unknown ideology under the surface,indeed of - the poetical and phenomenal surface of the third of the Yusuf trilogy ; Bal is a beautiful and sensational Turkish film that I may not be fond of in another life of mine,but dare in this one.… Expand

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