Love in 39 Degrees, or 39 Derecede Ask in Turkish, is a comedy romantic film that was released in Turkey in 2024. The film marks the directorial debut of Tunç Şahin, who also co-directed with Uygar Şirin. Uniquely, the film attempts to blend multitudes of emotions into highly paced storytelling that only transpires in a single day. With the stunning city of İzmir as the setting during the height of summer, the film’s themes of self change, transformation, and the beauty of human nature intertwine with the overwhelming heat and the hustle and bustle of the city making its love elements relatable.
Synopsis
The story revolves around a very busy single day in the coastal city of İzmir where two very dynamically different lives come face to face with one another. Kumru, the character played by Ayça Ayşin Turan, is a hotshot lawyer from Istanbul who travels to İzmir to handle the complete divorce of one of her powerful husband clients. The mission for this case is rather simplistic, but time bound: she just has 8 hours to win the case by finding evidence of cheating and securing it.
While being unfamiliar with the new environment and in a rush, Kumru bumps into Fatih, played by Furkan Andıç, an easy-going local with a great sense of humor. Fatih is the type of person who likes to savor the slower pace of life in İzmir, occupying himself by drinking tea at the beach. He detests any form of over-exertion. Unlike Kumru who is fast-talking and overly in-control.
Life’s circumstances hand the pair a set of challenges to deal with together. These include Fatih’s assistance as a driver to Kumru while she deals with her investigative needs. In the beginning, they share an irritable and unwilling alliance; they transform, slowly but surely, out of simple curiosity and fondness for each other. The action-packed emotional shift towards each other runs parallel to their attempts to catch the husband red-handed.
The drama revolves around the stress of high summer heat and the incredible story Kumru sets out to write for her summer trip. The combination of hilarious miscalculations, genuine heart-to-hearts, and strange events with locals easily blend with the newfound storyline. Both emmerse themselves deep in self-reflection regarding their life decisions, what they consider important in life, and even the things they thought had value.
Cast & Crew
Director: Tunç Şahin
Screenplay: Grup Çalışma
Director of Cinematography: Özgür Eken,
Music Production: Safa Hendem and Ahmet Kalabay,
Producers: Kaan Ege, C. Aslı Filiz, Ersan Çongar
Main Actors:
Ayça Ayşin Turan as Kumru – “An accomplish lawyer but emotionally distant.”
Furkan Andıç as Fatih – “An easygoing and friendly Izmirian who does not care much about anything”.
Cem Davran as İskender – as an important supplementary actor in Kumru’s Investigation.
Pelinsu Pir as Gönül – A friend of Fatih, Gönül serves as the comic relief but also as an unexpected source of wisdom.
Zeynep Oymak as Gülcem – Kumru’s friend and femme fatale.
Fatih Al, Gafur Uzuner, Umut Cinar and Can Kılcıoğlu complete the cast as supporting characters which bring color to the storyline.
Themes and Direction
Love in 39 Degrees chronicles the story of a romance in a lighthearted humorous angle. Additionally, the movie includes observation of character, habitual mannerisms modern people can possess, even in unusual situations. People can fall in love even in the most absurd moments and places. Director commentates the experience of high paced life of city population against a background of meaningless discomfort of ocean shores. The juxtaposition of urban and rural life acts not merely for the sake of setting but serves as social critique of the Turkish society, the clash of old and new, and free will versus obligations.
The title of the film denotes the heart-wrenching summer heat, a constant agony in the plot that simmers the discomfort and unresolved tension building between Kumru and Fatih. The passion released over the course of the day serves to fuel the metaphor for heat, constraining pressure, and layered emotions needed to sustain the metaphorical unmasking.
Tunç Şahin’s stands out for his warm and stylish vision. His direction captures natural growth in romance without having to rely on melodrama and instead focusing on the leads’ palpable chemistry. The warm, sun-drenched visual style featuring stunning Izmir coastline alongside its vibrantly colored streets set the atmosphere perfectly. The attention to minutiae like sweat beads on brows, the soft clang of drinks at a café, and gentle breezes moving curtains captures the audience’s senses allowing the camera linger.
Safa Hendem and Ahmet Kalabay have blended warm Mediterranean acoustic instrumentals with traditional Turkish sounds deepening the film’s charm. The score compliments whimsical undertones and emotional swells that accent alongside the metamorphosing bond of Kumru and Fatih.
Critical Evaluation and Reaction from the Viewers
The picture has not been criticized for failing to innovate within the romantic comedy genre because it does not seek to do this. Rather, it has been heralded for its delightful setting, charm, and performances. The audience response to the chemistry on the screen between Ayça Ayşin Turan and Furkan Andıç has been positive. Using subtle performance, both actors came to balance the emotional as well as comical facets of the movie.
As much as the critics pointed to the overall structure of the plot as something that is relatable in most romantic movies, it can also be said that the film’s strength is in how it is made. The setting, the lines of the movie, and interplay among the different roles appear to be realistic. This film satisfies those in the category of romantic undergoes because it contains a charm and comedy at the same time. This is particularly so where the movie features real culture and places.
Some reviews, however, highlighted how the film was devoid of creativity with its story arc and with too many clichés native to the genre. More advanced viewers of rom-coms felt that some aspects had been done before, such as the plot twist at the end or the unexpected dramatic disclosures. Nevertheless, due to the understated and sincere performances, the film managed to elevate above the other numerous entry films which adhere to the template of the genre.
Conclusion
Love in 39 Degrees is a film which lovingly encapsulates both the heat of the sun during summer and human affection. It revolves around the themes of taking things easy which allows one to discover love in both places and people which are most unexpected. Focused on a single day that has the power to change one’s life forever, the film’s plot, performances, and soothing cinematography are all woven together in a fashion that showcases the beauty and impact of that single day.
‘Love in 39 Degrees’ is ideal for anyone who is a fan of rom-coms, loves Turkish cinema, or just wants to watch something that provokes thoughts and smiles at the same time. The film provides an excellent escape while reminding us that love may come to you after a hot afternoon.
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