The Wild Pear Tree (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
The Wild Pear Tree is a 2019 drama directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan, starring Dogu Demirkol as Sinan Karasu, Murat Cemcir and Serkan Keskin. It runs 3 hours 8 minutes and earned $1.7 million worldwide. Critics gave it 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and 86 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.0/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 3h 8m (188 min)
- Director
- Nuri Bilge Ceylan
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
Turkish
- Studio
- The Cinema Guild
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Wild Pear Tree About?
The premise of The Wild Pear Tree without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A young, aspiring writer journeys back to his rural hometown, facing a stark contrast between his ambitions and the unfulfilled dreams of his family. He reconnects with former loves and encounters those resistant to change, forcing him to confront his creative aspirations alongside the weight of his past. The story explores the complex relationship with his father and the legacy he leaves behind, as Sinan seeks to find his place and reconcile with his roots.
The Wild Pear Tree Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- anatolia
- home town
- snow
- gambling debt
- provincial life
- countryside
- father son relationship
- solitude
- reference to anton chekhov
- reference to fyodor dostoevsky
- friedrich nietzsche
- shams tabriz
+38 more Show fewer
- guilt
- destiny
- fate
- publishing
- identity
- childhood
- graduate
- teacher
- big city
- canakkale
- trojan horse
- gambling addiction
- digging a well
- imam
- ex lover
- existentialism
- mayor
- modern turkey
- mood piece
- melancholia
- frog
- cigarette smoking
- money
- bus
- dream sequence
- writer
- bookshop
- dog
- power outage
- candle
- snowing
- classroom
- baby
- book
- sheep
- nightmare
- hanging
- suicide
The Wild Pear Tree Cast & Characters
Dogu Demirkol leads the cast as Sinan Karasu, with Murat Cemcir as Idris Karasu and Serkan Keskin as Suleyman. Directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan; 12 actors are credited in all.
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Director Nuri Bilge Ceylan
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Dogu Demirkol as Sinan Karasu -
Murat Cemcir as Idris Karasu -
Serkan Keskin as Suleyman -
Özay Fecht as Grandmother Hayriye
Also Starring in The Wild Pear Tree
· 8 more- Öner Erkan Imam Nazmi
- Kubilay Tunçer Ilhami
- Kadir Çermik Mayor Adnan
- Hazar Ergüçlü Hatice
- Tamer Levent Grandfather Recep
- Akin Aksu Imam Veysel
- Bennu Yildirimlar Asuman Karasu
- Rifat Sungar
More from Nuri Bilge Ceylan
More films directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan, best-rated first: About Dry Grasses, Winter Sleep, Once Upon a Time in Anatolia and Distant.
The Wild Pear Tree Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Wild Pear Tree 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and 86 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.0/10. Our Echo Score gives it 82/100, strongest in art & craft (90) and weakest in story & flow (70).
The Wild Pear Tree Echo Score Breakdown
The Wild Pear Tree excels in visual craftsmanship and character study, though its deliberative pace may challenge some viewers. The film’s deliberate framing and careful production design support the narrative’s introspective tone, while the lead’s layered interactions anchor the emotional core. However, its extended runtime and dense dialogue can feel overly protracted at times. Despite this, the film’s rich thematic texture and immersive style leave a lasting impression, rewarding patient engagement with thoughtful resonance.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 90
In terms of art direction and visual composition, the film showcases meticulous framing and evocative imagery that underline its contemplative themes. Cinematography consistently employs naturalistic lighting and measured camera movement to reinforce setting authenticity. Production design and editing choices maintain visual coherence across lengthy sequences, with only infrequent deviations in color consistency. Overall, the visual approach is both deliberate and engaging.
- Character & Emotion 75
When it comes to character depth and emotional resonance, the film offers a nuanced exploration of its protagonist’s aspirations and familial bonds. Performances deliver measured intensity, with deliberative dialogue revealing internal conflicts and relational dynamics. While some moments lean toward low-key expressiveness, the interplay among characters sustains introspective engagement. Ultimately, the acting and emotional core provide a consistent anchor, fostering thematic depth and viewer investment.
- Story & Flow 70
In terms of story coherence and pacing, the narrative unfolds through extensive dialogue and reflective exchanges that require sustained attention. Original themes of ambition and existential inquiry emerge steadily, though the measured rhythm and episodic detours may dilute forward momentum for some viewers. Nevertheless, the plot’s structural patience supports intellectual engagement and affords space for thematic layers to surface over the lengthy runtime.
- Sensory Experience 85
When it comes to sensory experience, the film balances a restrained musical score with attentive sound design that complements its contemplative atmosphere. The integration of classical motifs and ambient textures enhances mood without overwhelming the dialogue-driven scenes. Visual style remains cohesive through consistent color schemes and naturalistic soundscapes, while editing rhythm ensures clarity of successive moments. Together, these elements yield an immersive audiovisual environment.
- Rewatch Factor 75
Regarding rewatch value, the film’s layered dialogue and thematic nuance invite repeated viewings to uncover subtleties. Its deliberate pacing and dense exchanges may deter some audiences initially, but for those attuned to its reflective tone, each return reveals additional character insights and philosophical undercurrents. Overall, the film rewards patience with evolving appreciation over subsequent viewings.
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IMDb 8.0 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 94% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 82%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 86 Metascore
User score 7.9
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 75% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 4.0 /5
852 ratings
See on Letterboxd
The Wild Pear Tree Plot Summary
What happens in The Wild Pear Tree from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Sinan, a young and ambitious writer, returns to his hometown of Çan after completing his college education, eager to secure local funding for his debut manuscript, which he describes as a quirky auto-fiction meta-novel. However, he quickly discovers that the residents show little interest in his literary aspirations. Adding to his troubles, his eccentric father, Idris, has succumbed to a gambling addiction that has devastated their family’s finances and reputation.
Feeling the weight of his career uncertainties and grappling with social isolation, Sinan embarks on a wandering journey through the countryside, engaging in often heated discussions with various relatives and locals. Among them are an established writer and two Imams, who express contrasting views on the role of religion in contemporary society.
Full summary
The whole story of The Wild Pear Tree, scene by scene
The Wild Pear Tree Box Office
The Wild Pear Tree grossed $1.7 million worldwide. $34,014 came from the US and Canada and $1.7 million (98%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$1.7M
- US & Canada
- $34K
- International
- $1.7M
The Wild Pear Tree Trailers & Videos
3 videos: 2 trailers and 1 clip.
- Trailer The Wild Pear Tree (official trailer)
- Clip The Wild Pear Tree clip 1 - meeting Hatice
How Well Do You Know The Wild Pear Tree?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is Sinan's aspiration upon returning to his hometown?
Cars in The Wild Pear Tree
2 cars on screen: the 1994 Chevrolet K-Series and the 1976 Ford F-250.
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1994 Chevrolet K-Series Main role -
1976 Ford F-250 Important role
The Wild Pear Tree Also Known As
22 alternative titles, including “Le Poirier sauvage” and “Ahlat Agaci”.
- Also known as
-
- Le Poirier sauvage
- Ahlat Agaci
- Дикая груша
- L'albero dei frutti selvatici
- El peral salvaje
- 야생 배나무
- 野梨樹
- Дивата круша
- A Árvore dos Frutos Selvagens
- 野梨树
- Det Vilde Pæretræ
- עץ האגס הפראי
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- Det vildväxande päronträdet
- Η Άγρια Αχλαδιά
- A vadkörtefa
- A Pereira Brava
- Дрво дивље крушке
- Dzika grusza
- Der wilde Birnbaum
- El peral silvestre
- Cây Lê Dại
- Laukinė kriaušė
Seen The Wild Pear Tree?
Movies Like The Wild Pear Tree
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Winter Sleep, My Father and My Son and Father and Son.
The Wild Pear Tree FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of The Wild Pear Tree, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Wild Pear Tree?
The Wild Pear Tree runs 3 hours 8 minutes (188 minutes).
When was The Wild Pear Tree released?
The Wild Pear Tree was released on January 30, 2019.
Who directed The Wild Pear Tree?
The Wild Pear Tree was directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan.
More films by Nuri Bilge Ceylan Who is in the cast of The Wild Pear Tree?
The Wild Pear Tree stars Dogu Demirkol as Sinan Karasu, Murat Cemcir as Idris Karasu and Serkan Keskin as Suleyman, among 12 credited actors.
How much did The Wild Pear Tree make at the box office?
The Wild Pear Tree grossed $1.7 million worldwide ($34,014 domestic, $1.7 million international).
How is The Wild Pear Tree rated?
The Wild Pear Tree has 8.0/10 on IMDb, 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, 86 on Metacritic and 75% on TMDB.
Does The Wild Pear Tree have a post-credit scene?
No. The Wild Pear Tree has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is The Wild Pear Tree in?
The original language of The Wild Pear Tree is Turkish.
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