‘Sivas’: Not your typical boy-meets-dog story

The award-winning debut feature of Kaan Müjdeci, ‘Sivas,’ hit the screens this week. Those expecting a warm, boy-meets-dog story, however, are in for disappointment, as ‘Sivas’ is something else: one of the most powerful Turkish films to come to screen in recent history Much has been written about Kaan Müjdeci’s debut feature “Sivas” since its selection for competition in the Venice Film Festival (the first ever debut to compete from Turkey) and its subsequent capture of the Special Jury Prize. The story of an 11-year-old boy and an Anatolian shepherd dog made news long before its release with the charm of its young leading actor and the controversy around the scenes of dog fights.

“Sivas” hit the screens this week and is likely to disappoint both the audience expecting a warm, tearful boy-meets-dog story, and those hoping for a cautionary tale on dog fighting. “Sivas” is neither of those, yet one of the most powerful Turkish films to come to screen in recent history. “Sivas” is a coming-of-age story with no filters, and a brutal look at patriarchy, masculinity and power dynamics at their most naked.

The film takes the audience into the vast Anatolian steppes, suffocating in its stark grandeur. We are introduced to the 11-year-old protagonist, Aslan (Doğan İzci), and the monotony of everyday life in his village. The little actor’s love of the camera immediately draws the audience into the world of little Aslan.

‘No animals were harmed’

The pre-teen angst and the headstrong affliction of Aslan’s character are established very early on as he butts heads with everyone from his best friend to his loafing older brother. He pushes nerves, only to unmask his charm soon after...