Cosmos

A man runs out of the wilderness, snowblind and terrified. A child floats in the river, face down and drowning. The thunder of artillery fire echoes from the hills. The opening of ‘Times and Winds’ director Erdem’s latest is astonishing, powerful and deeply strange – and the film continues in much the same vein, refusing to settle into one style or narrative, aside from the central thread of the stranger, who may or may be a prophet, a psycho or even a God. It’s not an easy film – two hours is a long time for something this restless and unforgiving – but it is a fascinating one, studded with moments of exhilarating beauty and remarkable, unexpected power.