[somber music playing]
[Kemal and Belgin arguing]
-Tell me where you're having pain. -[Kemal] It's the same. I'm over it!
Right here?
[arguing continues]
Take a deep breath. [breathes deeply]
Now let it out.
Big cough. [coughs]
I'll write a prescription for you. You'll feel good in no time.
[Kemal] … for you and Ada. Everything!
[Belgin] How long will you leave her this time? How long?
-Answer me! -[Kemal] Enough!
-I'm getting the hell out of here! -[Belgin] Get the hell out, then!
[door open and shuts]
[door opens]
[Kemal sighs]
Baby girl, I have to leave for a while. And you won't see me for a long time.
I'll explain one day when you're grown up.
When you'll be old enough to understand.
You're a very smart girl. Take care of your mom, okay?
[tender music playing]
[sighs]
[door closes]
[woman in Spanish accent] How does little Ada feel?
[Ada] Lonely.
What else do you feel?
Observe your bodily sensations.
[clicks tongue] Sad.
[sighs]
BARCELONA - SITGES 2024
Abandoned.
[woman] And when you are sad, what happens in your body?
[inhales sharply]
I feel something here.
[gentle music playing]
Like pain.
Numbness in my head. Here.
My legs tremble.
Why do I still feel lonely, Carla?
Well, from what you have told me, your father grew up outside his family.
Bueno, he must have felt the pain of not being with his family
at such a young age, no?
And your mother may have felt that your father was abandoning her.
Because there was someone else who was more important to him.
So, you see, from both sides, we see this loneliness.
Mm. Carla.
I came here because you offered me to work together in this clinic.
Sevgi needs treatment, not me.
So, can we talk about her situation?
Don't worry. We will work with Sevgi.
But what about you, Ada? What do you need for yourself?
I want to help people, to heal their sicknesses.
And what was little Ada doing when she was feeling lonely, again?
[chuckles sadly]
She was trying to heal her doll.
If you want to help other people, you have to start from yourself.
[gentle music playing]
I know you were scared.
You were hurt.
But we've done incredible things.
And I'm right by your side now.
You're safe.
I can give you everything you need.
I'm here now.
[Carla] I'll ask you to make your family tree.
We call it "árbol genealógico."
You start with yourself,
and then you add your entire paternal and maternal family.
[somber music playing]
[Carla] So, let's see who was left out of your family system.
It is very important for you to find your place.
ANOTHER SELF
[gentle music playing]
Hey, girls. We've gotta meet up right now.
[phone chimes]
[gentle music fades]
[Sevgi] Here you go. Enjoy.
[phone chimes]
Hey, Dad. It's a surprise to see you.
Kind of out of nowhere. It… It's great, though.
Really, it's… we're glad you came.
Yes, we are. Fiko's told me so much about you, and…
I know we've never had the chance to meet before,
but frankly, we were curious about why you came to visit us now.
[reflective music rises]
Which way is the john?
The john?
-[gently] I'll show you. Come on. Here. -[sighs]
[calming music playing]
[Sevgi gasps]
[exhales deeply]
I mean, you don't call, you vanish off the face of the earth completely.
Now you're back on the most important day of our lives to ruin it?
And Fiko introduced him to the woman as his father.
Of course, Ms. Songül said, "You take care of your guest."
[sighs heavily]
It's okay babe. Let's get you some tea.
I don't even wanna hear the word "tea," for the love of God. Please. No.
How many years had Fiko Riko been estranged from his father for?
That man left him with his stepmom
and looked the other way when she was beating the boy up.
And once Fiko became old enough to leave the house,
he joined the army, so he was never much of a father, was he?
Sevgi, I understand you being so upset. Don't you think you might be overreacting?
-Babe, that's the man's father. -Ada.
I don't wanna sit through a lecture about this. Like, seriously.
Do you remember all the hoops I needed to jump through to make that appointment?
It's bad timing, of course, but he might've come to you for help.
Like maybe he needs you 'cause he's sick or something like that.
Oh, please! He's not sick or anything. He's just an alcoholic.
You're getting so tense.
Take a deep breath and relax your shoulders.
Deep breath. In through your nose, out through your mouth.
-[groans] -Just relax. Loosen up.
[sighs] Wow, that really works.
What's up with you all dolled up like that? Where are you going?
-[Leyla] Me? -You.
I'm going to the store.
"I'm going to the store." You put on fresh lipstick to go?
I'm going to get groceries, 'kay? Stop.
Now that Fiko can't pick them up, I have to absorb that responsibility.
By the way, I have to head out now.
-Where to? Hold on. -Where are you going?
You told us to come here 'cause of something urgent. What is it?
She couldn't even get a word in 'cause I was yapping on the whole time.
Tell me, what's going on?
-[Ada] Girls. -Huh?
-[Leyla] Yeah? -I finally found my sister. Deniz.
-You're kidding me right now. -Are you for real?
-Stop, you're kidding. -[Leyla] When was this?
Özgur helped.
-Özgür helped you? -[Leyla] Who's Özgur?
Yeah, he was on my flight.
-Özgur. -Wait. On your flight?
-Yeah. -His name's Özgür. And so?
And I have to go because I'm about to pick up Deniz from the bus station now.
-Is Deniz… sleeping at yours? -[Ada] Uh, yes.
-[Leyla] She took the bus? -[Ada] All right.
-Yes. -[Leyla] Is she staying with you?
-How? -I'll tell you later.
-[Sevgi] When are you gonna tell us? -[Leyla] Give us a call.
-[Ada] Bye! Bye, I have to go. -[Leyla sighs, scoffs]
She's keeping things from us again. It's obvious.
[sighs] She stopped loving us, Leyla.
Stop being paranoid! She couldn't even get a word in.
Well, she should've steered the conversation.
We interrupt each other when something important needs to come out.
Why don't you just go and put on your lipstick?
[sighs]
It's me.
-Now a good time, Dad? -Yeah.
If you want…
I made some soup for you.
-Asiye died. -[somber music playing]
Oh.
The witch is dead?
[sighs] God bless that woman's soul.
She gave up a lot for you guys.
I'm sorry. That's terrible. May God rest her soul.
Go grab a big bottle of raki.
It's pretty early for raki. How about you eat a little first, huh?
Just bring the raki, all right?
[sighs]
[busy chatter]
-[woman] Village pepper. -Mm.
-[Yorgos] Tomatoes? -[woman] Smells wonderful.
[passionate music playing]
-Yeah. Tomatoes look good. -Ah. Let's get you some.
-[Yorgos] One kilo. -One kilo.
Ah. Good morning, Leyla.
To you, I'm boss lady. You got that, Yorgos?
Okay? I'm boss lady.
Ah, boss lady.
Of course, I'm sorry.
Yep, that's right.
Hurry up, now. You know I don't have much time,
so let's grab the stuff and go, Yorgos.
[speaks Greek]
Meaning?
Meaning… [speaks Greek]
-[Leyla] Hmph. -[whimsical music playing]
[woman 2] Hello.
Hello. We'll check over there and come back.
-[woman 2] Of course. -Oh my God, I love this stand.
-You check between the leaves. -Between…
It's the best way to tell if they're fresh ones.
I imported this chef all the way from Greece, you know?
-Should I smell it? -Smell it.
-[speaks Greek] -[laughs]
The peppers on that stand look great.
-Take a whiff if you want. -We don't smell everything.
-Sesame leaves. -Sesame leaves, and good ones.
Then you pick them, and I'll stay out of it.
[Leyla] Hey, babes!
We’re out shopping to get the freshest produce we can find
at the farmer’s market today.
Come haul with us!
We're getting all of the best vegetables we can find.
From farm to table for you guys. Check it out, come on.
And plus, today I have a special surprise for you.
A brand-new transfer.
The chef at Eleni's Tavern,
our newest addition, Yorgos, all the way from Greece.
-Say hi. -Kalimera!
Oh, right. Kalimera. Pardon. Silly me.
So, anyway, don't forget to come over and make a reservation.
'Kay, bye.
Mwah. Mwah. Mwah.
Mwah.
What's that?
This… I'm going to make hortopita.
Wait, you're making orthopedics?
My grandmother's secret recipe.
-Hortopita. -Mm… Hm…
Hortopi-- [groans]
[romantic music playing]
-What happened? You all right? -I'm fine.
We're late.
We should finish it up and get back as soon as we can.
[romantic music fades]
Fiko!
-Hey, love, welcome home. -Thank you.
I'm late for work, so could you head upstairs and go take care of my dad?
-Fiko, wait. -Hm?
Have you talked to your father about when he's leaving?
No. I couldn't tell him.
I was going to, but…
Then he said that his wife died, and I couldn't bring it up after.
-[Sevgi] Oh… -Mm.
-I'm sorry to hear. -Yeah, well…
You can tell, it's broken him.
-He's devastated. -Mm.
So I couldn't make him leave yet.
[sighs] Sevgi.
It's fine if he stays for a while, right?
Fiko, can we talk for a minute?
Come sit down. You can go to work later.
Fiko. Fiko, listen, I'm not gonna beat around the bush with you about this.
-So please promise you won't get upset. -All right.
If we keep your father here, it'll be impossible to move forward
with the adoption.
And you know I'm right.
Of course I know, Sevgi but I don't have any options.
He came here. What am I supposed to do? Throw him out on the street?
Look, I'm not saying throw him out on the street.
We can go and find him a clean place. A hotel or an apartment.
We can still take care of your dad. But we have to move him out.
What if our application gets rejected? What then?
All of this would be for nothing.
[Fiko sighs]
Okay, Sevgi. I'll figure something out. I'll find a way, I promise.
-All right, Fiko. -[sighs]
-I gotta go now. -'Kay, have a good day.
[Fiko] Thanks.
-[somber music playing] -[sighs]
[Ada] Painful experiences don't just manifest in our memories.
They also occupy our bodies.
Meaning trauma, contrary to popular belief,
is not a psychological problem.
It's a physiological problem.
As our minds try to process discomfort in the body,
they generate emotions that feel familiar to us.
However, those feelings reflect the past, not the present.
When our past takes a hold of us, and we recognize that and transform it,
our feelings can also change.
If our feelings change, our decisions will also change.
Hey, babes, I'm waiting for her. She should be getting off any second.
I feel like maybe…
Like maybe this was a mistake, or I…
I mean, would it be awful if I said something came up?
And that I couldn't have her visit right now?
[phone chimes]
[emotional music rises]
"Maybe… Ada meets Deniz one day."
"She could be the big sister that Deniz never had."
[sighs]
[indistinct announcement on PA]
[Ada exhales]
[Ada] Deniz?
[bright music rises]
-Ada? -[chuckles softly]
-Nice to meet you. -[chuckles]
[both laugh]
[sighs]
I'm sorry if it's too much.
-I just got super excited. -[chuckles]
-So, how was your trip? -It was good. Just kinda warm, I guess.
Yeah, these days it's a little warm.
You're such a… beautiful woman, Ada.
-How come I never got those genes? -You're gorgeous, Deniz.
Mm. I'm hungry. I basically starved the whole way here.
-You wanna go eat? -Sounds good.
-My car's down there. -Let's do it.
[gentle music playing]
[Erdem] And it's already warranting more. Leyla, dear! Can you come here?
Erdem?
[Erdem] Hello.
I'll introduce you. Uh, Mr. Yavuz. My wife Leyla, sir.
It's a pleasure. Mr. Yavuz.
Uh, Leyla, Mr. Yavuz has fallen in love with the place.
Well, how could he not? It's been a labor of love.
Thank you. I appreciate it.
Mr. Yavuz, um, made us an offer.
I'll fill you in later with all the details, dear.
If it's for a wedding or a big organization,
we unfortunately won't be able to accommodate that right now.
But in the future, for sure. We're open to it.
It's not. We came to propose to Mr. Erdem an offer to acquire the entire business.
-You can consider it and let us know. -[tense music playing]
-Have a good day. -[Erdem] Yes. Have a good day, Mr. Yavuz.
This doesn't count, though, right?
Come by anytime. We'd love to see you.
All right. Take care, now.
Thanks, İlhan. Have a good one.
-You know I'm gonna kill you over this. -Leyla dear, let's smile until they leave.
Going, going…
What's happening with him? What is he saying?
You haven't even heard what they offered to buy it for.
I don't give a damn, all right?
-'Cause this place is not for sale! -Is that so?
And where were you all day today with that chef?
Leyla!
[tense music fades]
Making me yell in front of the damn mafia.
[bright music playing]
So, tell me. What's up with you?
All right. Who am I? [clicks tongue]
Um, I dance for work.
-Mm. -It was my major.
I work on cruise ships. I'm part of an amazing dance company.
So, you're traveling the world?
Yeah. I usually cruise for four weeks, then go home for two.
-And where do you live? -Istanbul for now.
But… I've been staying with a friend,
so I don't have to pay rent when I'm out at sea.
Hm.
I'm saving up. My dream is to be able to open a dance studio.
Oh. That's so great.
I'm so jealous of you.
I'm an awful dancer. Just terrible.
Like, I can't even pretend to dance.
Oh, stop it. Come on. Everyone can dance a little.
[laughs] No. I really can't, though.
What's your style?
Hm.
Actually… jazz would suit you.
Jazz?
Yeah, totally. It's an independent style, as opposed to a partner dance.
How come?
When I meet someone for the first time, I imagine how they'd dance
-That's special. -Dancing tells a lot about people.
Were they fluid? Were they stiff? What's their threshold?
In a relationship, are they controlling? Or are they submissive?
-You can get the whole picture. -Hm.
[somber music playing]
So, I shouldn't dance when you're around.
So, let's hear it. Tell me your whole story.
What do you do?
Other than being a gorgeous, charismatic, award-winning surgeon.
Someone made sure to do her research before we met up.
Yeah, well… I might have stalked you a little.
I've wondered about you for a long time.
I've heard so much from our dad.
[somber music rises]
Tell me more.
What would he say?
Good things.
Always good things.
-Excuse me. -[waiter] Yes, ma'am?
Can I get another beer? And what do you want to drink?
Wanna pack up here?
Let's go home. How 'bout you come over and we have a drink there?
Okay, sure. I'm down.
I warmed up some soup for you.
If you want, there's some fried rice too.
Fiko's an amazing cook. He made it.
-I heard you're a lawyer. -Mm-hmm.
Uh…
I work at an office downtown.
I haven't been able to work for a long time, though.
I was sick for a while. Fiko might've told you a bit about it.
But I'm better now.
Fiko and I, we met here, in Ayvalık.
You got some lemon?
[sighs]
[Sevgi clears throat]
Fiko said that … you lost your wife. I'm sorry to hear.
Mm.
I'm sure that down in Adana you have a lot of friends and family.
And I heard that you have a shop.
[sighs] Mm.
No, there's nothing else left for me there.
From now on, I'll be living here, God willing.
[somber music playing]
[sighs]
I think I've got a bottle in the fridge.
Bring me a glass of raki, neat. And get, um… a slice of cheese with it.
Here we are. Make yourself at home.
-Your place is unbelievable. -Thank you.
Come have a glass with me?
-Sure. Wine's cool. -M'kay.
So do you rent this place, or do you own it?
I own it. I moved here after the divorce.
Pretty good choices.
Both of them. You moving up here and divorcing your husband.
Do you have kids?
-Not yet, I don't. -Gotcha. Another good choice.
So, you must be seeing someone new, right?
No.
Okay, so I'm supposed to believe a woman like you doesn't have a boyfriend?
Well, you must have a booty call.
[chuckles] No.
I met someone the other day, though. And thanks to him, I found you.
Oh, nice. I like him, and I haven't even met him yet.
[gentle music playing]
[Deniz sighs]
[Deniz exhales]
To sisterhood.
[clinking]
What is that?
Some kinda project, or…?
Wait, why is my name on here?
[sighs] It's a genogram.
Like a family tree.
If you're curious, I can explain it to you.
I … I don't wanna ruin my buzz right now.
Deniz, could you actually go outside to smoke?
You can step out on the patio.
All right, sure. I'll do that.
[emotional music swells]
[music fades]
Dad?
What are you doing in the dark?
You all right?
Did you get raki for me?
[scoffs]
[sighs]
Listen. Let's talk for a minute.
Sevgi and I… have built a life here.
We've been through some very, very tough times.
My wife nearly died, Dad.
We've struggled so much.
And we're trying to adopt a child on top of it.
[somber music playing]
It's a very difficult time.
I mean…
Um… your problem… it's putting us…
It puts us in a very difficult position. It's not working anymore.
What problem are you talking about?
How about the two of us, tomorrow, go to the hospital for a checkup.
Have them take a look at you, Dad.
Then I'll move you into a place that's nice and clean.
-Okay? -[spits]
[music halts]
You're kicking your own father out, Fiko?
Like some piece of garbage?
So ungrateful. Shame on you!
-Mr. Rıza. -Sevgi.
I won't let you talk to Fiko like that.
-Sevgi… -For all these years, where have you been?
You've been gone. I don't even know who you are.
You call your son ungrateful as if you've ever supported him?
Ever were there for him?
-Ever did anything? -Sevgi.
In my house I won't stand for anybody speaking to my husband like that.
-[Fiko] Okay, Sevgi, please… -Come on, Fiko! It's enough of this.
Do you agree with what your wife is saying?
[emotional music playing]
[Fiko sighs]
I do.
I think that it's time for you to go now.
I'll get some cash for you.
-Dad! Dad! -[Sevgi] Fiko, please. I'm begging you.
He's gonna buy booze with the money. You won't be doing him a favor.
[sighs]
[exhales]
[door slams]
Oh God…
-God damn! -[music fades]
[Deniz sighs]
So does that stuff actually work, though?
You know, like, our ancestral… trauma
and… like all of that stuff?
[scoffs] I read the articles you wrote.
And you wrote something like…
"If we can find a way to accept our past…
it means we'll find a way to accept what's happening in the present."
Of course, uncovering what's in our past won't magically fix
whenever we have a problem.
But learning about and acknowledging our ancestral trauma,
that can enable us to really… change the impact we feel from it.
[laughs]
Ada, I feel awful for saying this, but you know what that sounds like?
Bullshit.
After you get into a clearer mindset, I'm happy to explain it to you.
I love the earrings you've got on.
They're beautiful. Can I see those? Can I just…
Mm…
-Sunflowers are my favorite. -[chuckles lightly]
I'm happy you like them.
After I was accepted to med school, I got them as a gift from Dad.
[somber music playing]
[ringtone playing]
-Where's your toilet? -Um…
-It's cool, it's cool. I'll find it. -On the left down there.
[call connects]
Hello?
How are you, Özgür?
I'm good. How are you? How'd it go with your sister?
Fine.
She's great, but might've just said something that made her upset.
-[tense music playing] -[breathing shakily]
"A gift from Dad"? Asshole.
[tense music fades]
-And what about you? -I'm in Ayvalık.
-What? You're in Ayvalık? -Mm-hmm.
I'm in town. Heading to my mother's house to do work.
What's up with you?
Want to go out for a drink? Are you free?
I'd love to, but Deniz is here, and…
-No. Let me call you back. -You go ahead. I'm leaving anyway.
Deniz, you're staying here tonight.
-I'm not letting you go. -[sighs]
All right.
'Kay, but one condition.
Tell me. What?
You're gonna go see Özgür right now.
So, do we have a deal?
[whimsical music playing]
[Leyla on phone] A brand-new transfer. The chef at Eleni's Tavern,
our newest addition, Yorgos! All the way from Greece!
-Say hi. -Kalimera.
[Leyla] Oh, right. Kalimera. Pardon. Silly me.
So, anyway, don't forget to come over and make a reservation.
'Kay, bye! Mwah. Mwah. Mwah.
-[knocking] -[Erdem] Leyla, you sleeping in there?
What are you even saying? I just showered!
Why would I be sleeping? I'll be out soon.
Oh my God, that man's so annoying.
We've gotta talk.
-I swear, if it's about selling the rest-- -Five million dollars.
[tense music playing]
[softly] What?
Five million dollars.
They wanna buy Eleni's Tavern from us for five million.
Why, though? Like… Why'd they offer so much? I don't get it.
Why should we care why? It's five million dollars.
We can't miss this opportunity.
Think about what we can do with that kind of money.
Or we can keep living this life, being miserable.
Oh, Erdem, are you serious? How's our life miserable, for God's sake?
-What is it, then? -It's miserable, though?
-What, then? -What you're going through's misery?
Leyla, look.
Look, we struggle every day just to get by.
Come on. The restaurant barely pays for itself.
We deal with jerks. At home, I'm a glorified babysitter.
You look run down from all the work.
[Erdem sighs]
Erdem, I'm run down now?
I'm not hot anymore? You don't find me attractive?
Just tell me to my face, I'm not beautiful anymore.
Is that what I said, huh?
And I'm the one who's been chasing after you.
You have no interest.
You know how many weeks it's been since we made love, Leyla?
Wow, Erdem! I come home crawling from working so much,
but all you really care about is the last time that we had sex?
I know. That's my point exactly, Leyla.
I just want you to live your life like a queen again.
Let's buy a couple of boats and put them to work.
We'll make money, get back to Istanbul, your husband can work,
and you can do whatever you want and be comfortable.
I miss having Lady Leyla in the house.
Either we take this offer now,
or we keep living a miserable life like this.
Please consider your family and us, and decide what you want to do.
Good night.
-[somber music playing] -[sighs]
[wind whistling]
[music swells]
[Ada] It takes effort and hard work for us to break free
from our victim mentality and the narratives that we cling to.
Even after hours of therapy, expecting to break free from those cycles
without taking real steps in our lives is merely passive optimism.
[Fiko sighs]
[Ada] When I found Deniz, I thought I had taken one of those real steps.
I thought everything would snap into place
and that I could make room for new stories in my life.
[chuckles]
But life has a tendency of testing us
with things we think we've already figured out.
[music fades]
[gentle music playing]
[Ada] And every new story we start to write
can only grow as big as the capacity of our hearts.
[gentle music fades]
[reflective music playing]
[music fades]