Law and Justice in Cinema: An Analysis of Hesitation Wound

OpenAlex · Türkçe

Among the prominent directors of the recent New Turkish Cinema, Selman Nacar stands out with his background in both law and film studies. His 2023 film Hesitation Wound (Tereddüt Çizgisi) presents a nuanced narrative centered on an attorney's ethical responsibility and moral dilemmas with in the legal system. This study thematically analyzes the concepts of ethical responsibility, the pursuit of justice and witnessing through the lens of Hesitation Wound (Tereddüt Çizgisi). Prior to the analysis, the relationship between cinema, law, and justice is discussed on a theoretical level, with examples from both world and Turkish cinema. The findings reveal three central themes in the film. First, the protagonist's inner conflict between professional duty and personal ethical responsibility in the pursuit of justice is highlighted. Second, through a figure marginalized by the system and condemned to live in the shadow of the law, themes of social exclusion and injustice are brought to the fore. Finally, the silence of the character expected to bear witness reveals the social and individual boundaries of ethical obligations with in legal processes. Thus, the film sheds light on the fragile relationship between the individual and the legal system through themes such as ethical witnessing, silence, and the possibility of justice.