Superlatives are entirely warranted for immensely assured Turkish arthouse drama Uzak, which is filled with a palpable sense of loss and yearning. Written, produced, photographed, edited, and directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan, it's the story of Yusuf (Emin Toprak), an unemployed young man from the countryside who comes to a wintry, present-day Istanbul in search of work on the ships. He stays in the apartment of his divorced cousin Mahmut (Muzaffer Özdemir), a successful yet cynical photographer, who's soon irritated at having his solitary routine disrupted by the presence of his rural relative. Uzak is richly contemplative and languid filmmaking, in which Ceylan's camera observes with calm detachment two men who are struggling to cope with the loneliness and transience of modern urban living. Disillusioned with his work — "photography is finished", he declares — Mahmut has been shocked by the news that his ex-wife Nazan (Zuhal Gencer Erkaya) is emigrating to Canada with her new husband. Yusuf meanwhile vainly tries to find a job at the docks, and is too shy to talk to the pretty women he sees on the city's snow-laden streets. (A capsized, rusting boat symbolises Yusuf's thwarted aspirations.) Both individuals are shown smoking and gazing out mournfully over Istanbul and its surrounding waters; both seek refuge in watching television. Few recent films have been so accomplished in capturing the way people drift through their lives, unable to communicate their emotions and feelings. That the actor Emin Toprak died in a car crash after filming was completed only deepens Uzak's memorably melancholic mood. 10/10. Excellent.

Brutal but brilliant, "Peppermint Candy" follows the sinister career of a Korean cop in a suspensefully constructed, politically charged, emotionally intense story told backwards, taking the viewers back through 20 years of a doomed man's life, while chronicling the sentiments and changes of modern Korea. Masterfully written, beautifully made and powerfully acted, "Peppermint Candy" is a jewel that sparkles with intelligence and emotion but cuts like a diamond. Every scene, potent with both danger and inner emotion, subtly changes our view what we've already seen. Even the smallest details of film-making contribute to the film's power. Its harshest scenes are punctuated with a view from the back of a train — shown backwards to look like it's moving forwards through the beautiful, mountainous countryside — accompanied by soft, melancholy string quartet music that traces a line back to the guilt-free past while never letting us forget the wretched man's death on the tracks in the future. The symbolism of small everyday items like peppermint candy is profound, and the difficulty of creating a fresh, new present out of a rotten past is something we come to feel on a personal level. This is a story from Korea, but its human implications apply to humanity all over the world. There has rarely been a better film made, ever. 10/10. Excellent.

Apophis;968532 wrote: To duliga mesha leh, in the quickest way remove the insulting tag with my name on it. saqajan waynadey ba tahey. ^ DONE. hope you like your new title tag.

^ LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL@Apo, inaar, i didnt write this. let me see if i could delete it baal. caadi maha, it's awesome to know, i've got editing privileges. does that make me the ADMIN of this thread? LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

^ so you've been accepted? when are the results due, abti? you're going to enjoy the student life, ma istidhi? LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

that's funny y'all.

i'm out y'all. gonna sleep for a couple of hours before suxuur.

Cambuulo iyo bun;968412 wrote: Todays Afur Starters: Dates Malawax Sambuus Bur saliid Bajiyo Qaxwo Shurbah Main: Fried liver with canjeero Salad Fruits: (Water melon, papaya, mango, banana, grape fruit) Beverage: Mango juice Water that's solid. very balanced, indeed. :cool: love that fried liver with laxoox. awesome.

^ i must be mistaken, cafwan. i thought he was xasade oo kale.

XX, did the wefti go to these locations under the 'protection' of the SL fisheries minister. i understand, he was formally a minister in Puntland,State of Somalia. can you confirm?

Carafaat;968403 wrote: Inaar, Indeed I would love to support the country develop policies on Economics, Trade and Commerce. Inshallah, I will come soon inaar. My sister has been caling me lately and asking me to move back to SL. Inshallah before the end of the year, I will be back. ^ aar baal tan eega? waar dowlad dhan ayaa ku bahan. adna walaasha baad ka fikiraysa.

^ saas miyaa? you little wahabist saqaajaan. sida ku sii waad. waa iga taalo.

Carafaat;968397 wrote: Khadar ma laga qaaday DG nimadii? ^ i knew the minister was Hussien Xoog. didnt know the DG. my friend is so qualified walahi. he's excatly what SL needs, ma garatay? i will follow him into working for the SL Republic balse, let's see how well he fares, marka hore, you know. he's book heavy but the malayacni, beenta iyo khiyaaliga of the locals in the ministry will cost dearly, i reckon. LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL. you'd do quite well in Planning, Commerce and Posts, i reckon. what do you say, inaar? come home and let's fix this mess.

Haatu;968399 wrote: Alpha, that's a Q&A thread and doesn't get much traffic coz no one goes to the Dood Wadaag section. But you're just scared it might relegate this thread to the dustbin Arrimahayga waa iska caadi. Ka waran Hargaysa iyo Ramadlaan (as Somalis say it ). How's the atmosphere? abti, i'm glad to hear you're doing well. this has really made me happier. i remember the last time we spoke on Skype, you weren't too happy. keep your chin-up laakin. things will work out, ma garatay? i beg you start the thread ninyahow. i'm getting a little bored of this thread, dee.

^ Haatu, xilimaad noqotay salafi?

^ NO. i wouldnt advise that, ma garatay? why? because you've already got your own Somali thread in the Dood Wadaag section, abti. you alright? howlahaagu soo dhag maha?

Carafaat;968384 wrote: Alpha, Tell us more about this man. Is it true what the Khatumites say. Did Hagzoow kill a lion in Buuhoodle with his bare hands. Ninku ma balaayo? mise waxaasi wa iska sheeko cayn? walle, Hagz is greatly misunderstood. ninku daab bu leeyahay or in other words, he has plenty of charisma and an excellent personality. we're quite close, you see. he's an excellent Somalilander, these days . he expressed to Alz, on more than one occasion, of his concerns about being given a lowly position. apparently, he felt this was below his talents and i completely agreed. anyways, he's the health ministers now and i'm quite sure, that'll satisfy his ego. the guy is super cool and very sociable walahi. i reckon, y'all will get along. the rumour-mongers like to circulate qashin about Hagz but its all lies, inaar. haters are gonna hate, you see.

Buhoodle, Somaliland, July 6, 2013 (SL Times) – The transfer of Suleiman Ise (Xagla Toosiye) from heading the ministry of Re-settlement to being the new minister of Health was enthusiastically in Budhoodle region. This sentiment was expressed by some of the intellectuals and leaders of Budhoole who contacted Haatuf Newspaper. The Buhoodle community was not satisfied with Suleiman Ise’s previous post as the minister of re-settlement which they saw as not up to their expectations. Suleiman Ise (Xagla Toosiye) had worked in the health care system in the United States where he lived for many years. http://www.somalilandtimes.net/sl/2013/597/8.shtml

^ naga daa Tillamook, inaar. his personality isn't too great. i reckon, he'll ruin the mood.

i would like to congratulate my friend Hagz on his recent appointment as the new Health Minister of the SL Republic. congrats, inaar. Hagz has a masters degree in public health and is very well qualified to reign over his new ministry. with the appointment of an experience DG at the helm, Hagz will do great. hambalyo. Hagzooow. Alz.

watching an interesting debate on Horncable TV about the talks between Somaliland and Somalia. its very informative. thanks Horncable...

Lee Rigby's funeral earlier today.

ramadan karim y'all. chilling at yards. enjoying my weekend.

JULY 2013 - West Hargeisa