The Exam

A 2006 Turkish comedy-drama directed by Ömer Faruk Sorak, the film follows five high school seniors—Mert, Sinan, Gamze, Kaan, and Uluç—as they prepare for the challenging university entrance exam. Each faces personal struggles: Mert (Yağmur Atacan) aims to fulfill a promise to his cancer-stricken mother by providing for his family, having abandoned his studies; Sinan (İsmail Hacıoğlu) fears the wrath of his abusive police officer father if he fails; Gamze (Tuba Büyüküstün) wishes to escape her home due to her parents' constant fighting; Kaan (Volkan Demirok) is under pressure from his family to enter medical school, though he dreams of becoming a bass guitarist; and Uluç (Rüya Önal) seeks to avoid the poverty that has plagued his father's life. Realizing that traditional studying methods are insufficient, the friends resort to extreme measures by hiring a professional thief and assassin named Charles (Jean-Claude Van Damme) to steal the exam questions. However, their plan leads to unforeseen consequences, prompting each to reevaluate their values and aspirations. The film delves into themes of societal pressure, familial expectations, and the moral dilemmas faced by young individuals striving to find their place in the world.