Gazelle

Yakup, a Turkish music teacher seeking political asylum in New York, is trying to keep his head above water as he navigates the US immigration system. Working illegally in a restaurant kitchen with a lively group of fellow immigrants, he is laser focused on laying the groundwork to bring his wife and daughter abroad. In a desperate attempt to expedite the process, he seeks help from a group of shady fellow countrymen who resort to risky methods to get people out of Turkey. But things quickly go sideways and chances to reunite with his loved ones deteriorate by the minute. In their emotionally astute and confident turn behind the camera, accomplished actor Nadir Saribacak (known for his memorable lead role in Winter Sleep, winner of the 2014 Cannes Palme d’Or) and editor Samy Pioneer craft a deeply moving character study that blends European social realism and American indie traditions. This is a raw and timely record of the profound distress of displacement.