Is Tearing Walls Down Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (2023)

The Narrative Arc & Core Premise

Tearing Walls Down, a standout production of 2023, meticulously weaves its narrative threads through the Documentary landscape, offering a cinematic experience that is as challenging as it is rewarding. The primary thematic concern of the film is an investigation into Peoples' Democratic Party(HDP), which had been founded under the leadership and with initiation of the Kurdish political movement, entered the parliament with a landslide election victory. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to a world where the traditional boundaries of Documentary are tested.

The screenplay takes its time to establish the stakes, ensuring that every character motivation is grounded in a psychological reality. The synopsis only hints at the depth: "Peoples' Democratic Party(HDP), which had been founded under the leadership and with initiation of the Kurdish political movement, entered the parliament with a landslide election victory. HDP won many city and district municipalities in Kurdistan and has become a great hope for communities and peoples of Turkey. After the peace process came to an end, many lawsuits were filed against HDP and its MPs within the framework of a lawsuit for closing and banning HDP. Hundreds of politicians were arrested and sent to prison, including Figen Yuksekdag, the former co-chair of HDP, Gultan Kisanak, the co-mayor of Diyarbakir Metropolitan Municipality, and Aysel Tugluk, HDP MP. Furthermore, many were forced to go abroad and started to live in exile. Aysel Tugluk got dementia while she was in prison and it was only after the protests that she was released. In this documentary, the first-degree relatives of Figen, Gultan and Aysel tell the process of going to and coming from the prison."

Artistic Execution & Performance Study

A film's resonance is often dictated by the strength of its execution, both in front of and behind the camera. Figen Yüksekdağ does an admirable job with the material provided, but one can't help but feel that a more daring directorial approach would have yielded a more impactful result. It is a competent but ultimately standard genre performance.

The direction by Şerif Çiçek is marked by a steady and professional hand. From a production standpoint, the film meets the high standards of modern industrial filmmaking. The sets are well-crafted, and the visual effects are integrated with a level of polish that ensures the viewer matches the director's intended level of immersion. While perhaps not groundbreaking, the execution is flawless. The pacing, over its 50 minute runtime, allows the audience to fully inhabit the space the director has created, making the eventual resolution feel deeply earned.

Critical Assessment: Why You Should Watch

Is Tearing Walls Down truly worth your investment of time and attention? In an era of disposable content, this film makes a strong case for its existence. If you are a connoisseur of Documentary, then this is a worthwhile watch if you have a specific interest in the themes or the performers involved.

The film's ability to perfectly execute its genre requirements is why it has earned its 0/10 score. It speaks to a global audience while maintaining a distinct and unique voice, a balance that is notoriously difficult to achieve in the modern marketplace.

Philosophical Subtext & Directorial Vision

At a deeper level, Tearing Walls Down explores the dichotomy of truth and perception. The 2023 audience is increasingly sophisticated, and Şerif Çiçek respects this by refusing to provide easy answers to the story's complex questions.

The philosophical underpinnings of the second and third acts suggest a narrative that is interested in more than just entertainment. It is an exploration of what it means to be human in an increasingly complex world.

Final Editorial Recommendation

Ultimately, Tearing Walls Down is an interesting experiment that, while flawed, offers enough moments of creative spark to be worth a casual glance for the curious. Whether you are drawn to it by the star power of Figen Yüksekdağ or the critical acclaim surrounding its release, Tearing Walls Down is a film that demands to be seen on the largest screen possible.