The Hope College Knickerbocker Winter Film Series will continue with the coming-of-age drama “Mustang” on Monday-Saturday, Feb. 8-13, at 7:30 p.m.
Directed by Deniz Gamze Ergüven and nominated for the Best Foreign-Language Film Oscar Award, “Mustang” is French-Turkish film portraying female empowerment in five sisters fighting for their freedom.
David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter has described the film as “A transfixing, atmospheric and intimate drama.” Ann Hornaday of The Washington Post has said that the film is “Exhilarating. A bracing portrait of a young girl and her teenage sisters coming of age,” and Jordan Hoffman of The Guardian has called it “…A gripping and ebullient sibling comedy-drama.”
Set in a village in northern Turkey, “Mustang” follows five sisters in their journey of sisterhood and womanhood. The sisters’ relatives see their innocent play with boys as immoral, and eventually their family home is transformed into a prison. Instruction in homemaking replaces the girls’ traditional schooling, and as their relatives want the girls to be seen as desirable wives, marriages start being arranged. The film centers on the idea that freedom should be fought for, and the five sisters’ shared passion for freedom helps them find ways around the constraints imposed on them.
The film is rated PG-13, and is in Turkish with English subtitles.
Following “Mustang,” the Knickerbocker Winter Film Series will continue with “The Winding Stream: The Carter’s, The Cash’s and the Course of Country Music,” showing Monday-Saturday, March 14-19, and “Race,” showing Monday-Saturday, April 4-9. All films begin at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for the individual films are $7 for regular admission, and $6 for senior citizens, Hope College faculty and children. Tickets will be sold at the door but are also available in advance at the Events and Conferences Office located downtown in the Anderson-Werkman Financial Center (100 E. Eighth St.). The office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be called at (616) 395-7890.
The Knickerbocker Theatre is located in downtown Holland at 86 E. Eighth St.