After watching Saudade, the latest release from writer, director, and actor Kemal Yildirim, it's easy to find words of praise.

Named after a feeling of longing, melancholy, or nostalgia, Saudade is one of the first films I've seen in a long time without clicking Pause.

So what's this film about?

On the surface we have a troubled couple making out, slapping each other around kind of film. Essentially flashbacks of a stormy romance with fairly straightforward images of coffee grinding and cleansing (reminiscent of Lady Macbeth?). But the camerawork, pacing and strong performances suggest more.

If we were to compare this short film to music, someone like Erik Satie might come to mind. The tight edits are reminiscent of the parsimony in Satie's work. And the overall feel is atmospheric and somewhat ambiguous, again like Satie.

A phone call in the closing scene could answer a few questions. Make Saudade clear. But I was still trying to put things together after the credits.

Some might find this deliberate mystification lacking and others, satisfying. There is no definite epiphany; instead, we're just left with lingering uncertainty.

I've been reviewing Yildirim's films for almost a decade, and Saudade is a definite step forward or perhaps a shift in direction. The film deals with memories, emotion and is infinitely subtler than the director's earlier projects.

Saudade is an open-ended drama that will probably speak to more moviegoers than we realize.

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

The romance genre features the theme of romantic relationships and emotional connections between characters. These stories focus on the development of love, desire, and intimacy between protagonists, often exploring the challenges, conflicts, and triumphs that arise in their relationships.

Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)

The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

The thriller genre features suspense, tension, and excitement. These stories are known for keeping audiences on the edge of their seats and delivering intense emotional experiences by revolving around high-stakes situations, dangerous conflicts, and the constant anticipation of unexpected events.

'Saudade' A dark Psychological drama. Exploring Alice's fractured mind and her search for what lays within her long buried memories. Alice becomes lost within the memories she aches for opening the door to her hidden self.

Kemal Yildirim and Holly-Rose Durham in Saudade (2017)

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

"The Gentlemen" and "Slow Horses" return this fall, while the "Reacher" spin-off series "Neagley" makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

2026 Fall TV and Streaming Watch Guide

&quot;The Gentlemen&quot; and &quot;Slow Horses&quot; return this fall, while the &quot;Reacher&quot; spin-off series &quot;Neagley&quot; makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Kemal Yildirim, Holly-Rose Durham, and Sean Botha in Saudade (2017)

Kemal Yildirim, Maurice Smith, and Holly-Rose Durham in Saudade (2017)

Kemal Yildirim, Maurice Smith, Holly-Rose Durham, and Sean Botha in Saudade (2017)

Saudade

Photos5

Top Cast3

User reviews3

More like this

Related interests

Storyline

Did you know

Top picks

Details

Box office

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed