Marrakech Film Festival 2024: One of Those Days When Hemme Dies

Directed by and starring Murat Fıratoğlu in his feature debut, One of Those Days When Hemme Dies is a meditative character study, which follows protagonist Eyüp (Fıratoğlu) throughout the course of one eventful day. Working long hours in a field under the hot sun, Eyüp needs money to pay off his debts. His late wages have already caused some tension between the worker and his supervisor, but things escalate further when an insult leads to an altercation. Grabbing his motorbike and leaving in anger, Eyüp decides that he’s going to get revenge on his boss by killing him. When his bike breaks down, however, and he’s forced to put his plans on hold until he can replace it, encounters with townspeople take his day in unexpected directions.

Composed of luscious long takes of sweltering fields dotted with vibrant red tomatoes, dusty countryside roads and the quiet small town nearby, Fıratoğlu’s first film is an exceptionally good-looking one. More than its aesthetic brilliance, the purposeful slow pace is designed to allow audiences to fully absorb the small actions of the characters’ everyday lives. Whether that be a friendly chat with an elderly man, taking a break to watch a cartoon playing on TV or catching up with a former classmate, Fıratoğlu gives an insightful and profoundly human glimpse into modern life in Turkey.

It’s through these micro-interactions that the filmmaker taps into wider themes concerning masculinity, class and community. These ideas are all naturally woven throughout the script and developed at their own steady pace as Eyüp reflects on his experiences. Fıratoğlu’s performance is also appropriately understated, his expressions during the long pauses conveying more than words ever could.

There’s a lot more going on in Fıratoğlu’s feature debut than its simple premise lets on. Although the deliberately methodical speed and lingering shots won’t be to everyone’s taste, Those Days When Hemme Dies nevertheless presents a marvellous cinematic odyssey to those willing to lose themselves within it.

Andrew Murray

One of Those Days When Hemme Dies does not have a release date yet.