Abandoned Man Review
Director: Çagri Vila Lostuvali
Date Created: 2025-08-23 01:49
2.5
Abandoned Man Review: Metruk Adam is a film directed by Çagri Vila Lostuvali and written by Deniz Madanoglu and Murat Uyurkulak. The film stars Mert Ramazan Demir as Baran in the title role, aided by strong performances from Ada Erma, Rahimcan Kapkap, Edip Tepeli, Burcu Cavrar, and Ercan Kesal. In 92 minutes, this is a Turkish film that traces the life of a man whose youth is snatched away from him due to a crime for which he is innocent and who then attempts to restart his life once he has been released from prison.
The Abandoned Man movie is about second chances. But once you get into it, it’s really about betrayal at home, childhood wounds, and how love often comes in from the most surprising places. That’s why I wanted to see it.
Netflix Abandoned Man Review
The film opens with Baran being let out of prison after serving a very long sentence. His crime? Taking the blame for his older brother’s mistake because his father had made him own up to it. Can you even conceive of being in your teens and watching your life get wasted away in prison for something you didn’t even do? That alone got me so much and set the tone for the whole movie.
This Turkish movie Abandoned Man, follows Baran’s attempt to be a free man. He wants to open a repair business, stay away from the strife of his family, and begin a new life. But life is not obliging. He is spurned, betrayed, and met with disappointment after disappointment. The only understanding corner in this harsh quest is his small niece, Lydia, who is the ray of sunshine in his bleak life.
The only thing I truly enjoyed about Netflix’s Abandoned Man was the way raw Baran’s emotions feel. His silence is painful, and when he bonds with Lydia, it’s so genuine. Ada Erma, who plays Lydia, steals every scene she appears in. The innocence she brings lightens the overall dark mood of the tale. Their friendship is the most powerful part of the movie and probably the reason that I stayed engaged till the end.
I also loved Musa’s character. He is aloof and cold to begin with, but we get to observe a broken man who slowly learns to open up and love again. Watching Musa, Lydia, and Baran bond to become an unlikely family was emotionally moving. It felt like sometimes family isn’t the one you are born to, but the one you find along the way.
Visually, the film is very realistic. The garage, the tiny houses, the streets — it all feels real to Turkish existence. It never feels too flashy, which is appropriate for the struggle and survival theme.
While I liked some of it, I have to confess that the film Abandoned Man was frustrating, too. The film piles tragedy after tragedy on Baran, and past a point, it gets unrealistic. I am not opposed to tearjerkers, but here, the sadness appeared slightly excessive, as if the director was pushing us to sob instead of the feeling coming to us naturally.
The second issue is the speed. The film is very slow in the first half. I almost gave up watching because I felt that nothing was moving. By the time the action started speeding up, the movie was almost heading towards its ending. In short, it takes too long to build up and then ends too quickly, leaving you unsatisfied.
Also, some of the plot twists were too convenient. Opportunities suddenly materialise at the right time for Baran, which makes the struggle less believable. I wanted there to be tighter writing, with more focus on one good conflict and not several scattered issues.
Mert Ramazan Demir, as Baran, has an uneven performance. At times, I was able to visualise his despair and agony well, but at times, he seemed a bit stiff, as if he was holding back too much. However, I will give him credit because Baran’s is a tough part — it is not simple to carry the weight of trauma in silence.
Ada Erma, playing Lydia, is the focal point. Her innocence and energy lift the whole film. If it wasn’t for her, you would not have seen this film. Ercan Kesal as Musa was good but a bit disappointing in parts. The acting is not so good in general, but good enough to keep you watching.
Turkish film Abandoned Man Review: Summing Up
If you are a fan of slow-paced emotional dramas, then this film might move you. It teaches lessons about hope and perseverance, and not giving up, even when the world is against you. To watch Baran fight against destiny is something inspirational in a way. The best part of the movie for me was Baran and Lydia’s relationship — that alone made me tough enough to finish it.
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