You are here:

Are We Ok?

Name: Are We Ok?
Director: Çağan Irmak
Released: 2013
Duration: 92 min

Representation Score

8.8/10

Excellent

2013

Director

Çağan Irmak

Runtime

92 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Are We Ok? succeeds by centering underrepresented identities without making their struggles the sole focus of a moralizing drama. By presenting an openly gay protagonist and a character with a physical disability through a lens of ability to act and mutual discovery, the film avoids common clichés of tragedy or pity. The film's strength lies in its humanistic approach to unconventional family structures. It replaces rigid social hierarchies with a focus on emotional intelligence and individual empathy, creating a sophisticated character study. While the film excels in queer and disability representation, it remains somewhat localized in its ethnic scope. However, its subversion of traditional gender roles and religious expectations provides a refreshing, inclusive perspective on modern urban life.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Are We Ok? have LGBTQ+ representation?

Excellent

The film focuses on Temmuz, an openly gay sculptor, showing his identity as an integral part of his life. It avoids typical coming-out stories, instead highlighting modern romantic instability and supportive family connections.

How does Are We Ok? portray gender?

Good

Temmuz challenges traditional masculine roles through his sensitive, creative career. Female characters such as Beste and the protagonist's mother play crucial roles, providing emotional support and intelligence.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Are We Ok??

Fair

Set in Istanbul, the film reflects a contemporary urban Turkish identity. It avoids narrow national stereotypes, focusing instead on the diverse social layers within a cosmopolitan city.

How does Are We Ok? represent religion and culture?

Good

The story prioritizes a secular, bohemian outlook over traditional religious structures. It highlights personal connections and 'found family' relationships rather than institutional or nationalist social obligations.

Does Are We Ok? include disability representation?

Excellent

A character born without limbs is integrated into the main emotional storyline. Instead of relying on pity, the film uses this relationship to promote mutual growth and brotherhood.

Present on Screen

Avoids 'coming out' clichés by presenting queer identity as a normalized, established part of the protagonist's life.
Provides disability representation that emphasizes mutual ability to act and brotherhood rather than using characters as objects of pity.
Challenges traditional masculine roles through the protagonist's sensitive and creative lifestyle.
Features strong female characters who act as essential, intelligent pillars of support.

Limited or Absent

The racial and ethnic scope is somewhat limited to a specific urban Turkish demographic.
The narrative does not explicitly explore multi-ethnic or interracial themes within its cosmopolitan setting.

Official Synopsis

Temmuz is an openly gay sculptor living at a flat with his dog in Istanbul. He lives a bohemian lifestyle and has a happy go lucky, carefree, eccentric (such as believing in good luck charms) character, frequently distracting him from his work as a children's book illustrator, and eventually leading him to be abandoned by his boyfriend via e-mail. He is given solace and affection by her wealthy mother, who is fully supportive of him, and best friend and co-worker, Beste. In the meantime, he keeps seeing a young man in his dreams, who repeatedly calls him for help and rescue. One day he runs into this guy while getting on the bus, who is accompanied by his mother, and helps them get into their home as the young man was born without limbs. From then on, two lives would collide into each other, starting a brotherhood full of discoveries and mutual help.

How are these scores produced? →