Confidante (2025) by Guillaume Giovanetti, Çagla Zencirci: A Moral Dilemma in a Political Thriller
- dailyentertainment95
- Aug 17
- 5 min read
Short Summary: A Confined World with High Stakes A woman working at an erotic call center in 1999 Ankara is faced with a life-or-death decision when a young caller becomes trapped under the rubble of a devastating earthquake. Her choice to help him leads to a dangerous entanglement with powerful and corrupt forces.
Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35451642/
Link Review: https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/473909/
Link to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/fr/film/confidente (France), https://www.justwatch.com/es/pelicula/confidente (Spain)
Detailed Summary: A Call for Help
The Protagonist: Sabiha, a 40-year-old woman using the alias "Arzu," works at an erotic call center in Ankara to earn money for a lawyer to gain custody of her son. She is physically disabled, which has confined her life and made her adept at communicating through her voice.
The Earthquake and the Call: An earthquake strikes Istanbul, and Sabiha receives a desperate call from a young man she had spoken to earlier. He is buried under rubble and begs her to save him.
A Moral Crossroads: Sabiha realizes she has the means to help him. A previous call revealed that a powerful prosecutor, the only person with the authority to dispatch rescue teams, is at an orgy in a high-class hotel.
Escalating Danger: She makes the call, but it sets off a chain of events that exposes her to political corruption and places her own life in jeopardy. Her act of compassion spirals into a high-stakes negotiation with those who seek to silence her.
Director's Vision: The Confines of Power
A Chamber Thriller: Directors Çağla Zencirci and Guillaume Giovanetti intentionally crafted a "chamber thriller" that largely confines the action to a single setting—the call center. This claustrophobic atmosphere is used to heighten tension and reflect the protagonist's own physical and societal confinement.
Off-screen Storytelling: The film uses the off-screen concept, with visuals being restricted and sound becoming a crucial storytelling element. The directors chose this approach to respect the real-life trauma of the 1999 earthquake victims, focusing instead on the human drama and moral choices.
A Modern Scheherazade: The directors see the protagonist, Sabiha, as a modern-day Scheherazade from One Thousand and One Nights, who must use her voice and storytelling ability to survive. Her journey from a marginalized figure to one who finds her voice and power is central to their vision.
Themes: Deceit, Power, and Resilience
The Double Life and Duplicity: The film explores the theme of duplicity as a tool of survival and domination. Sabiha's alter ego, Arzu, allows her to navigate a patriarchal society, while the powerful men she encounters also hide their true identities and intentions behind masks of respectability.
Power Dynamics: The film dissects the power dynamics in both intimate and societal exchanges. It shows how power operates on different levels—from the transactional nature of the call center to the corruption within the political elite.
The Condition of Women in Turkey: The film acts as an uncompromising exploration of the condition of women in late-1990s Turkey, a society grappling with moral and economic liberalization while still holding onto entrenched patriarchal values. The protagonist's struggle is a microcosm of a broader societal conflict.
Key Success Factors: A Powerful Performance in a Tense Setting
Saadet Işıl Aksoy's Performance: The entire film rests on the shoulders of lead actress Saadet Işıl Aksoy, whose exceptional performance captivates the audience. Her portrayal of a woman wrestling with a difficult moral choice is central to the film's success.
Tightly Composed Thriller: The minimalist approach and tight composition of the film, with its limited setting and focus on dialogue, create a high-stakes, suspenseful experience that keeps the viewer on edge.
Blending Genres: The film's ability to seamlessly transition from a social drama with comedic elements to a high-stakes political thriller is a key strength that makes it accessible to a broader audience.
Awards and Nominations: A Berlinale Premiere The film had its world premiere in the Panorama section of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. The film's lead actress, Saadet Işıl Aksoy, has also been recognized for her work, having received the "Medal of Honor" at the International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival.
Critics Reception: A Tense and Audacious Film
Cineuropa: Fabien Lemercier of Cineuropa describes Confidante as "a punchy and audacious huis clos," highlighting its intense and uncompromising nature. He notes that the film takes on "radioactive" topics and is carried by the "exceptional Saadet Işıl Aksoy."
Screen Anarchy: Martin Kudlac of Screen Anarchy calls the film a "restrained chamber thriller" that expertly blends "socio-political inquiry with genre filmmaking." He praises its high-concept premise and how it manipulates space and sound to heighten tension.
Overall Summary: Critics have praised Confidante as a gripping and intelligent thriller that uses its confined setting to explore complex themes of morality, power, and the condition of women. The film's success is attributed to its sharp direction and a standout lead performance.
Reviews: An Emotional and Suspenseful Journey
MUBI: Reviews on MUBI describe the film as "beautiful, interesting, incredible cinema," praising its cinematic quality and emotional depth.
Overall Summary: General audience reviews and initial reactions echo the critical reception, highlighting the film's suspenseful plot and its powerful emotional core. Viewers find it to be a thought-provoking and engaging cinematic experience.
Why to recommend this movie: A Gripping Moral Tale
A Unique and Engaging Premise: The high-concept plot, centering on an erotic call center operator who must save a life after an earthquake, is both original and immediately gripping.
Character-Driven Narrative: The film's focus on the protagonist's moral dilemma and her journey of empowerment makes it a deeply personal and compelling story.
Intense and Claustrophobic Atmosphere: The tight, single-location setting creates a sense of dread and suspense that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
Movie Trend: The Chamber Thriller The film follows the trend of "chamber thrillers" or huis clos films, which are characterized by their limited settings and intense, character-focused narratives. This trend has gained traction in recent years as filmmakers look to create suspense and psychological tension without relying on large-scale action or special effects.
Social Trend: Reclaiming the Narrative Confidante is following the social trend of women's stories reclaiming the narrative. It centers a marginalized female character and explores her agency and strength in the face of societal oppression. The film gives a voice to a character who would otherwise be unheard, a common theme in contemporary cinema.
Final Verdict: A Must-Watch Thriller Confidante is a powerful, audacious, and skillfully crafted film that is more than just a thriller. It's a character study and a socio-political commentary that uses a high-concept premise to explore deep-seated issues. With a phenomenal central performance and a relentless sense of tension, it is a must-watch for anyone who appreciates intelligent and compelling cinema.
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