A boy’s circumcision and the attendant ceremony become a point of contention for his family and the village at large in this multifaceted portrait of life in rural Turkey. Living in a starkly beautiful mountainous region of northeastern Anatolia, young Mert represents the titular animal being led to the slaughter; older sister Vicdan terrifies him with stories about the looming procedure, while mother Medine wonders why her husband Ismail’s new job won’t provide enough money for a modest celebratory feast. Within this simple framework, director Kutlug Ataman weaves a complex story of simmering familial and societal tensions. Vicdan’s manipulations of her attention-stealing brother and Medine’s plot to avenge the villagers’ lack of support for her plight offer powerful critiques of gender inequality, while a sly portrayal of a lounge singer who captivates Ismail reveals the dearth of professional options for Turkish women. With concision and surprisingly wry humor, this not-so-gentle Lamb tenders the cautionary strength of a classic fable. US PREMIERE
IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE TURKISH AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA