The Ottoman Lieutenant
Lillie, a determined American woman, ventures overseas to join Dr. Jude at a remote medical mission in the Ottoman Empire (now Turkey). However, Lillie soon finds herself at odds with Jude and the mission’s founder, Woodruff, when she falls for the titular military man, Ismail, just as the war is about to erupt.
-
- Cast：
- Michiel Huisman , Hera Hilmar , Josh Hartnett , Ben Kingsley , Haluk Bilginer , Selçuk Yöntem , Paul Barrett
Similar titles
Reviews
Touches You
Sadly Over-hyped
Redundant and unnecessary.
It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny
Beautiful romantic movie set against the backdrop of World War I. I don't know why many people are saying it as historically inaccurate etc etc. I mean, the movie never claims to be based on history or historically accurate. It is a love story between an American nurse and an Ottoman Army officer, only the timing of their affair also coincides with World War I. Maybe because I am neither American nor Turkish, so I watched it as neutral. Watch it as a neutral. Think of love story not World War I or history. It is not a lesson in history. Watch it for the story, for the locations. Beautiful scenery, exotic locations, don't know where it is filmed, maybe Turkey. You will fall in love the landscape. The lead characters play their part very well. Michiel Huisman is coming up very well. Hera Hilmar looks beautiful. They are good, but they are not big names at the moment and this movie needed some big names to be more recognized. If it was made in 60's, someone like Omar Sharief could have played the Ottoman Lieutenant and today it would have been regarded as a classic. Maybe if they become big names in future, maybe, the movie will have more appreciation. Ending, I think they messed that part. I mean there was no need for Ismail Veli to die. He is the main lead of the movie, the movie is named after him and he also has the girl. The guy deserved to live at the end of the movie. They shouldn't have made it a tragedy. Maybe current times or generation is not that much into tragedies.Also, pace is fast for a romantic movie. I mean, they should have taken some more time into character development or cultivated the romance between Hera Hilmar and Michiel Huisman. Such movies tend to be a bit slow and long and it also works for them very well. Still a beautiful movie to watch.
A decent period drama which provides some insight into social values of the early 1900s. Through relationships between a young American Christian doctor, an idealist American nurse dismayed by white supremacist beliefs and a Turkish Ottoman lieutenant fighting for justice and the survival of the Empire the film addresses many issues, including interfaith relationships, the alleged Armenian massacre and the 'White Man's Burden.'The film is primarily set in Eastern parts of a collapsing Ottoman Empire where a Christian missionary hospital is being run Americans. As the war develops and Russian participation increases battle lines are drawn by the main characters. Humanitarian choices are also on offer.At times predictable, the film makes a pleasant change from the usual Hollywood period drama set in Europe or the US. The cinematography is good with some remarkable scenes. The Ottoman Lieutenant will appeal to the socially conscious in a world increasingly filled with racism and discord.
This movie is a great love story that send the viewer into though times in a tough place. I'm not fan of this genre in general nor did I wanted to comment but it didn't seem fair to not give credit to this decent work nor did it seem right to leave some subjective hateful reviews bury the rating so absurdly . It wasn't biased and gave each party screen time to explain their part of the story, and the timeline history strongly support the major events. Although it shouldn't be confused with a documentary. Every movie need drama enhancing I imagine. But it is done smoothly. The directing was great, the acting was top notch.
A war film. or a romantic one. each discovers what he want. and the only delicate aspect could be the unrealistic expectation. because it is less a political movie, it is less a pledge for a cause or the other but one of beautiful - bitter stories about people, emotions, contact between different worlds and the result of this meet. a film who preserves its noble intentions to the first scene to the last, against pathetic scenes and too many black/white perspective or too sentimental parts. but this does it touching. and, maybe, useful, remembering many other stories about same theme.
