Winter Sleep Starring: Haluk Bilginer, Melisa Sözen, Demet Akbag Directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Aydin, a former actor, runs a small hotel in central Anatolia with his young wife Nihal, with whom he has a stormy relationship, and his sister Necla, who is suffering from her recent divorce. In winter, as the snow begins to fall, the hotel turns into a shelter but also an inescapable place that fuels their animosities.

There’s no doubt this marathon demands patience and attentiveness, but it does reward the viewer by revealing a great deal about the reality of the human condition through its probing characterisation and pungent dialogue. Think of it as dramatic slow-cooking where the ingredients take their time to come together, but the result is a very tasty treat indeed.

Verdict: Visually compelling, the film builds to some final-act twists that are worth the wait. ****

This film will be shown at The Harbour Club, Portscatho on Tuesday 24th March