Nefes: Vatan sagolsun is a story of 40 Turkish soldier defending a remote military post from terrorists.the story inspired from true events is about an infantry captain mete and 40 soldiers under his command,most of them are new recruits and inexperienced.mete who is mildly disturbed because the death of his close friend by a terrorist leader called doctor shattered him from inside.he is filled with rage and anger to avenge his friend's death.Mete Horozoglu gives a thundering performance as cpt.mete.

nefes cannot be consider completely as a war movie but a highly philosophical drama and the character study of the soldiers who are working under impossible conditions,ready to defend their country at the cost of their life.the movie deals with the psychology of soldiers,give the view of their daily life under cruel circumstances.movie travels deep inside feelings of soldiers who are at the front for first time.

the movie is filled with hard-hitting dialogues and quotes with memorable performance from all castes.the movie consists of many unforgettable scenes that are highly binding and sensitive.the highly energetic speech from captain to infantry at beginning was shot very artistically with top-notch acting and cinematography,everything was white with fog and snow,only soldiers were visible.the scenes when soldiers talk to their family and loved ones were also very emotional. everything was brilliant in the movie.cinematography and sound effect were exceptionally brilliant.they filmed the wast terrains covered with snow very beautifully and the sound effects was also of very high quality.

the whole movie revolves around the soldier's life,their thoughts and thinking.the real action is at the last 25 minutes of movie.the combat scene were very quick,realistic and brutal.the combat also filmed with great perfection.i remember two scenes first when cpt. order a soldier to turn off the generator,without wasting a second he went outside through the firing of enemy,he turn off the generator and get shot and died instantly. he lost his life only to turn off the generator,so that they should not be the easy target for enemy.without firing a single bullet he was the hero of the day.he knew the risk that he would die for sure but he did because it was the order.another scene when a terrorist came running inside station and blew himself with three soldiers.i have never seen such a forthright description of war.

but the movie had some of its mistake too,it's patriotic tone and some over-dramatization caused it to loose its international appeal.another reason was that movie hold a totally distinct view towards war in comparison to Hollywood movies that also make the difference.

but i liked it as this is the best of the recent war movies outside Hollywood and very different from them.

watch it,if you can relate with this philosophical, war drama,it will be the mind blowing experience for you.

Successful Turkish commercial director Levent Semerci adapts the short stories "Tales from the Southeast" and "Ground Minus Zero" by former Turkish National Security Council public relations officer Hakan Evrensel into this successful feature debut which won two awards at the 3rd Yeşilçam Awards as well as being one of the highest grossing Turkish films of 2009.

Veteran army officer Cpt. Mete (Mete Horozoglu),who has been unbalanced by recent casualties, takes command of an ill-prepared platoon of military service conscripts assigned a relay station in the South-Eastern mountains of Turkey at the height of the conflict with the PKK in a plot inspired by a number of genuine incidents.

Mete Horozoglu is superb at the head of a truly ensemble cast of unknown actors who underwent rigorous military training in preparation for their roles and who as a result come together to create a convincing group of everyday Mehmets, with Dogukan Polat and Ibrahim Akoz particular highlights, sent to almost certain death for reasons they can't truly comprehend.

The debut director makes wonderful use of almost poetic imagery to break up the realistically mind numbing monotony of the majority of the film's 128 minute running time with rare moments of high tension such as the Captains initial motivating speech about the dangers of sleep and the brutal final act to create a seemingly realistic war film in the style of "Full Metal Jacket" by Stanley Kubrick.

This film however steers a careful line between patriotism and anti-militarism prompting massive debate throughout Turkey as to the films true message but however you read it you can't help but be moved by the insight into the everyday lives and deaths of these simple folk facing the banal monotony and absolute terror of compulsory military service in a country at war against itself.

"You'll be heroes for 45 seconds!"

The Breath begins almost as a Turkish version of Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket. A drill instructor berates a group of young soldiers; telling them that they will all die; especially if they sleep. He says that their mothers will cry when their bodies are sent home for burial. He asks one of the boys if he has a girlfriend. When he answers yes, the commander says, not anymore, and while you are fighting for your country, she will find a new boyfriend.

The platoon is sent to a dangerous mountain region at the Iraqi border to stop the radical Kurdistan Workers Party. The Turkish soldiers learn quickly that they are canon fodder for their government; a fairly universal theme everywhere. The battle scenes are well made and as military films go, The Breath is one of the better ones that I've seen. Director Levent Semerci make you really care what happens to the brave young men.