A retired actor living in an isolated Anatolian hotel writes a book about Greek theater. Winner of the Golden Palm in Cannes.

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In an isolated hotel in Anatolia that he inherited from his father, Aydin, a retired actor, is using his new free time to write a book on Greek theater. He lives there with his young wife Nihal, with whom he has a quiet and distant relationship, and his divorced and bitter sister. With winter coming and snow about to cover the countryside, the fragile balance of his relationships falls apart...

The Cannes Film Festival flattered its detractors by awarding the 2014 Golden Palm to Winter Sleep, a 3-hour, 16-minute epic by Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan, who won best director for Three Monkeys, and two jury prizes for Distant and Once Upon a Time in Anatolia. Less silent but just as contemplative, less demonstrative but of captivating beauty, this film paints an interesting portrait of society, and of a touching marriage crisis – with a superb performance by Melisa Sözen. Cut by an hour and few overblown metaphors, it would have been even more powerful.