Ten years is a long time in a Turkish prison, but Yusef has paid his debt for the acts of political anarchy he committed in college. And now he has come home to the hill country with a secret, and little to say about his time away. In his absence, life has gone on without him. His father has died, his mother has aged, and his friends and college classmates are all married with children. In a village populated mostly by the elders, Yusef’s friend Mikhail is his only connection to his former life. Together they pass the time, reminiscing on trips into town, and outings to the highlands and the seaside.

On an evening at a local pub, Yusef meets Eka, a homesick German prostitute with a young daughter back home in the care of her mother. Two wounded souls, Yusef and Eka form a pensive bond that helps them pass the time that weighs so heavily on their days. But in an unspoken way, they both know that it will take much more than that to fill the abyss within.

Join me this week on Chopstick Cinema for a closer look at the Asian entries in the 2009 Cinequest Film Festival, which opens on Wednesday, February 25 and runs through Sunday, March 8. For further information on the film and the festival, visit the Cinequest website.

For questions or comments send e-mail to cheiter at thingsasian dot com