A conspiracy theory says that popular genres are becoming redundant and soon, the knack for watching them on the screen will wane away.
Okay, I made that up. But a new cerebral, and offbeat series on Netflix might actually change your perception about movies.
Originating from Turkey, A Round of Applause is a six-episode long show, running for approximately two hours in total.
Is it a good one? Read my review to find out.
A Round of Applause Synopsis
Longing for his previous life in an Orange, a man, with zero will to live, navigates a life with his quirky parents.
He is rebellious, and they don’t know how to deal with it.
A Round of Applause is a decades-spanning drama, filled with struggle and existential angst.
It is directed by Berkun Oya and features Asl?han Gürbüz (Zeynep), Fatih Artman (Mehmet), Cihat Süvario?lu (Metin), Rezdar Tastan (Young Metin), Kayra Orta, Eyup Mert IIkis, Serra ArIturk, and others.
What Works for A Round of Applause?
Well, well, well, I had no plans of reviewing the show today. But it is so unconventional and enticing that I couldn’t resist.
A Round of Applause’s unique idea grabs you like glue. It gives unprecedented power to creative wisdom and explores a not-so-popular realm.
A couple plans to have a kid. A few days after birth, the child goes back into his mother’s womb. The unimaginable stunt shows the kid’s reluctance to be born because of so many reasons. The series depicts his journey after he is ‘forced’ to accept life in an ‘inconsiderate’ world.
The whole idea sounds insane, which is the most significant thing about A Round of Applause. It captures your wildest imaginations and turns them into an interesting plot.
The highly offbeat storyline, non-linear in nature, goes beyond what we watch on a daily basis.
An engaging pace of narration allows the viewer to finish all episodes in one go. A Round of Applause is unassuming given the fact that it doesn’t care about judgmental eyes.
The makers use their inventive flair with no bounds to propel a masterpiece in storytelling. They keep you curiously stunned while maintaining a sturdy flow.
Blending dark humor with raw, internally uncanny conversations brings the best out of A Round of Applause.
Unrestrained characters, mystical vibes, and imaginative situations make the series whole in more than one way.
There’s a slight bit of stage suspense, which allows the plot to shift gears on the trot.
How are the Performances?
Asl?han Gürbüz superbly handles Zeynep in A Round of Applause. She starts as a sparkle and never lets it go away, despite plot variations.
Her control on emotions and the expression thereof makes her outing savory. Asl?han is honest with the character, which is also reflected in the way she communicates fictionally.
Fatih Artman is impressive in his role as Mehmet. His impromptu outbursts nourish the series with intensity as and when needed.
There are scenes where he breaks all the shackles and then suddenly ties himself back in an instant. The story is such that Fatih gets the chance to explore and exploit his acting abilities to the fullest.
Cihat Süvario?lu plays Metin in A Round of Applause. His sketch is uncanny and so is the actor’s display of emotions.
The extemporized aggression, deadpan humor, and explicitly tantalizing screen presence give him an edge over the others.
He makes full use of the character’s elliptic yet scattered tenor.
What Doesn’t Work for A Round of Applause?
There are no downsides to the Turkish show. Still, I would like to mention a couple of points.
First, I don’t understand why they made a series instead of a film. Two hours should not be called a TV show, in my opinion.
Secondly, it is a free-flowing series, where anything happens at any time, which makes it convoluted.
The majority of people may not resonate with the show but that doesn’t make it bad, I guess.
Stream or Skip?
Kudos to the whole team of A Round of Applause for pushing the boundaries. Go for it, people. The series deserves your time.
The sad thing is this particular movie will evoke polarizing opinions. Some will find it great while others will sit on the opposite side.
But no one will deny it a chance.
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