The Small Town

“Today’s subject is the rules which govern social life,” states a schoolteacher in Ceylan’s wistful look at village life and the environments and structures that bind communities and family together. Based on an autobiographical story by Ceylan’s sister Emine, the film is divided into four parts according to the seasons. The Small Town begins in a wintry classroom before following two young siblings throughout the year. They explore the woods and a carnival in spring and fall, and fall asleep adjacent the crackling flames of a summertime campfire, listening to their elders speak of dreams and loss. Melancholy and wistful, this low-budget film premiered at the 1998 Berlin Film Festival, announcing Ceylan’s talents to the world.