[gentle music playing]
[woman reciting prayer in Arabic]
[man praying in Hebrew]
Is she going to pass away soon, Papa?
Nobody except God knows.
But which God knows that? Is it Mom's or yours, Papa?
Even though Mom and Dad are of different faiths, son,
even though we pray in different tongues, we believe in one Creator, Özgür.
We each still trust in God's grace and love for us.
Both of us are comforted by the knowledge of God's wisdom.
[mother] She's gone! She's dead!
[music turns somber]
[sobbing] She's gone! My little girl is gone!
-Musa! Musa, hurry! -[heartbeat thumping]
[music swells]
[sobbing continues]
[Özgür] When a death occurs, the rituals, the church bells,
the chants, Buddhist mantras, all sing the same tune,
due to the fact that death is one thing all societies have in common.
That doesn't mean the approaches that people may take
aren't unique to culture.
For instance, in Spain and in Mexico,
the folk legend la Llorona mourns by crying loudly.
By Kilimanjaro, people always incorporate music and song in their mourning.
[bright music playing]
My question is, um, what shapes our conceptions about death?
Our societies and culture, or something more personal?
If none of you had ties to a religion, culture, or any particular practice,
and your farewell ritual could look like anything,
how might you handle death?
-[phone vibrates] -Please respond to this question for…
ADA - HAPPY THE FUNDING WAS APPROVED. I HOPE YOU ENJOY AFRICA.
…your final assignment.
So please, get something ready by Friday.
-Professor, why don't you stay? -Yes, please, Professor.
Tell you what. Do well on your papers, and I swear I'll give it some thought.
Come on, now. Aren't you all bored by now? Come on, get out.
-Then I bid you arrivederci, Doctor. -Arrivederci.
-[excited chatter] -[woman] Are you leaving now?
ADA - HAPPY THE FUNDING WAS APPROVED. I HOPE YOU ENJOY AFRICA.
[gloomy piano music playing]
ANOTHER SELF
[music fades]
[Ada clicks tongue] He didn't answer.
You just told the guy, "Goodbye. I'll be happy on my own."
What's he meant to say, hmm?
Try to be honest and answer yourself.
Make your decision. Do you want him or not?
My text was my attempt to step up.
And his response? "Bye. I'll be home again in a year. Take care."
Listen, so, um, you're telling me that was your big gesture?
Yeah. Right. It was.
You asked Selim to wait for you when you were going to Brussels.
You expected that from him. Now this?
And now you don't want to wait for Özgür?
I'll give you my opinion.
Özgür's trip isn't the actual problem. There's a deeper matter here.
So spill it.
The man told you in very clear terms he doesn't want to be a dad.
So, do you want to be a mom?
All right, then.
I'm saying it. I'm thinking of becoming a mom.
[bright music playing]
-Huh? -[Sevgi] What? Hmm.
-Mm-hmm. -All right, let me plant one on you, Ada.
-[chuckles] -[Leyla] I'll kiss you too. Come here.
-I got one for you too. -Yes, me too.
-Mwah. -[both chuckle]
Problem solved, right? No more pining about Özgür.
He's not interested in having babies. You know that already. Easy.
That's it. He's not the man for you.
The right guy, the right relationship.
But it's possible that my truth and life's truths are different.
[Sevgi] Look, he told you he doesn't want kids, Ada.
And since you do, for God's sake, just let the thing go.
Uh, no way! Let it go? No, never let go.
Come on. Girl, your eyes have fireworks popping in 'em. Do you know that?
Men don't inspire that in women our age. We hardly care anymore.
Don't push away this opportunity. Y'know?
As long as you're not married, honey,
don't make sacrifices.
[music fades]
And what about Erdem, huh, Leyla?
Boy, what am I supposed to do with Erdem?
Eleni's has… burned down completely. Our income's all gone.
We got money from my mom and dad, but that's going to run out soon.
So what do I do with Erdem? Do I just kick him out?
Not care about what he's going to eat and if he's got a roof over his head?
Why should you care? That's what he gets, the dumbass.
Are you his parent now? His mommy or something?
-Exactly, sweetie. -Let him rot in hell.
Should've thought of that instead of cheating. Asshole.
Hey! Erdem is the reason we're all able to be here together.
I would've burned in the fire if not for him.
Pardon? Could you explain to me exactly how he did that?
Oh, Leyla, Leyla, Leyla.
Take a look.
Here. You tell me what happened.
[Leyla] Is this a joke?
Erdem and I were rescued by Yorgos?
Yorgos is the person who pulled us out of the fire?
I'm tired of your lies, Erdem. [inhales]
Take it away, Sevgi. [sighs]
So ladies… you see?
Decide what your priorities are as soon as possible.
'Cause life's too short. I'd better go now.
-[Ada] Where? -I have to get with the prosecutor.
I have to report how that idiot threatened me. [sighs]
-Okay, babe. Just try to watch your back. -I will.
-See you later. -[huffs]
I can't take the lies anymore.
-[somber music playing] -[sighs]
[Leyla exhales]
Hello, my lovelies.
Many of you know our restaurant burnt down recently in a monstrous attack,
at this point, exactly a month ago.
Look.
No one was terribly hurt, praise God, but take a peek at the result.
My Eleni's is gone.
The perpetrators were arrested but released,
thanks to a lack of usable evidence.
But do not worry, because I still haven't lost hope.
Darlings, I need to thank you. Everybody's support means so much.
My DMs are overflowing. I read them all, and I love all of you.
Take care of yourselves until we can all meet again at Eleni's Tavern.
Mwah! I miss everybody.
[sighs deeply]
Yorgos, there's no way I can thank you enough.
I've been oblivious.
I didn't realize you were my rescuer.
We both owe you our lives, Erdem and myself.
-I have no way to thank you, Yorgos. -[chuckles]
No need to be grateful. As long as you're safe.
[Leyla sighs]
What's your plan now?
I've decided to go back to Greece before long.
Except if someone says I shouldn't.
Please give me time to figure some things out.
[tender music playing]
[Ada] Sometimes we become addicted to a relationship, a substance.
Or an emotion.
But maybe the really hard part isn't breaking the addiction.
Maybe the hard part is figuring out what to do with the void it leaves behind.
It hurts a little right here.
[Ada sighs]
[Ada] As I spend more time with Deniz,
I realize some things were changing within me.
Maybe what they call unconditional love
isn't about loving someone blindly and unquestioningly.
Maybe what we need isn't unconditional love,
but accepting love.
Maybe that kind of love is about accepting the ones we love
and what they've been through,
the story that led them to this day.
[tender music fades]
[grunts] I got you something.
[Deniz giggles]
-Is that for me? -Look.
What do you think?
-Oh, it's beautiful. -[gentle music playing]
-[Deniz laughs] -[Ada] Let me help.
Here.
Do you like it?
Aw, It's wonderful. Thank you so much.
[Ada] I hope it brings good luck.
[Deniz chuckles, sighs]
[Ada] Maybe the problem wasn't my past,
my family, or what happened to my ancestors anymore.
It was now time to take responsibility for my own decisions.
[sighs]
You're finally here, Halime, hm?
We're so happy you got here safe. See? Everyone's waiting.
[music fades]
-Halime. Hello, honey. -Hi, honey.
Here, for you, my dear.
-Oh! Here, I'll tie it in place for you. -[all laugh]
Let me introduce you to everyone. Meet Muko. She's my mother.
Mr. Rıza here, he's Fiko's father.
[Muko] It's wonderful to meet you, sweetheart.
[chuckles, sighs]
Behind me here is our beautiful home.
Plus all this is our massive garden.
-And you're such a darling little girl. -So sweet.
Sir, are you from Hatay? My grandfather looked like you.
Oh, I… I… No.
Adana's my home. Uh, but Hatay and Adana are pretty much neighbors.
[Fiko chuckles]
Halime, we've got such a lovely room ready for you to stay in.
[Songül] Halime, for now, we'll just be visiting here,
while we're in the testing period, remember?
And then when you're ready and at ease, and Sevgi and Fiko are too,
we can discuss a permanent arrangement.
If you want to, that is. Hm?
-[Fiko] Yeah. -[Muko chuckles]
In the meantime, maybe I could convince you to let me kiss you once?
[hopeful music playing]
[Sevgi chuckles] Okay.
[Muko] Aw.
All right, everyone, come. Let's head over to the courtyard.
I've made us lots to eat. And I'll just bet you're starved.
Come on, everybody. Let's come have food together.
-Let's eat a meal. -Please, after you.
[Ada] No matter how great our losses are in this life,
is it possible to embrace the stories we leave behind?
[Carla] Did you ever work on your previous relationships, Ada?
And what did they mean to you?
I'm ready. Would you help me do that?
Well, you've been my student for two years.
You know what to do.
Okay, thank you.
[intense rock music playing]
[Ada] Sometimes we think what keeps us from starting a new relationship
are the wounds inflicted from our previous relationships.
But what about the wounds we inflicted?
Is it possible to have closure without confronting them?
♪ It's why my future… ♪
[screams]
[Ada] Toprak. When I terminated my pregnancy without telling you,
my anger had gotten the best of me.
Running into you after so many years,
it's only now that I'm able to see I was blaming you for your priorities,
and that I treated you harshly.
We shared so much between us. Thank you so much, Toprak.
I'll be keeping a corner of my heart for that time.
And for my part in our hardships, I'm taking responsibility.
I'm leaving your part to you.
I'm giving our unborn child a place in my heart.
Selim, I blamed you for cheating on me.
For not being honest.
But how honest was I towards you?
How receptive was I towards your wants and needs?
I can only now see how manipulative I was
in order to persuade you into doing what I wanted.
[Selim] Tonight is supposed to be a great night to conceive.
[Ada] I received news from Brussels.
There are three people left in the finals. Maybe you can come with me, huh?
[scoffs] Sure.
I'm cold. I'll get out. You enjoy yourself.
[Ada] Selim, I shared a wonderful part of my life with you.
I learned how to be a friend. I felt safe because you were there.
I'm grateful, now and always, for all that you gave me.
And I'll keep a place for you too.
I wish you great happiness. And a wonderful future.
♪ The spark, the taste, and the destiny… ♪
[Ada] Diyar, I was disappointed
because I thought you had been lying to me.
I used that as an excuse to break up with you.
But actually, I was with you because you made me feel good,
even though I couldn't fully reciprocate your feelings.
Only now can I see how badly I broke your heart.
I hope you have a beautiful life.
And I'll keep a place for you as well.
Good luck in your future.
Sometimes we need a wind to help us let go of the heartbreaks,
the old anger, and the burdens we carry.
And once in a while,
that wind sneaks in through a window we've never opened before.
And I catch fish in my dress at the ocean.
See, I have my own issues as well.
And I'm very far from perfect.
[song fades]
My romantic life has… just always…
always been the story of a girl abandoned by her dad.
I left people first, so I couldn't be abandoned.
I did the same thing with Özgür.
The moment I sensed that he might leave,
that he had things that might very well have mattered more to him than I did,
I just broke up with him.
For my entire life,
I've just expected people to want to fight for me.
To choose being partners with me,
to stay with me each and every time, with no exceptions.
But me, I'm not the one who fights.
When have I ever actually just… accepted someone for who they are?
-[chuckles softly] -[Ada sniffles]
-Me. -[sighs]
[gentle music playing]
You accepted me, Ada.
I know you can do the same with Özgür.
I think if you're willing to take a different approach,
you'll experience something else.
[Ada sighs, sniffles]
[Deniz sighs]
[Ada sniffles]
[man] Here. Over here.
-[man 2 grunts] -[indistinct chatter]
-[man 3] Get him! -[man 4] Oh God.
-[man 5] Come on. -[somber music playing]
[sighs]
I wanted to meet up before your trip.
Good, I'm glad.
[Ada sighs]
I couldn't quite bring myself to develop them.
I think I was afraid I wouldn't be able to go if I saw you.
It was a beautiful time, Ada.
It really was.
[Özgür] The fact that beautiful things can hurt people,
I'm not sure I'll ever be able to really accept it.
[reflective music playing]
Here.
[Ada sighs]
Özgür.
I regret it.
I didn't give us enough time. I was too impulsive.
I hurt you. I'm sorry.
Ada, you were right.
It was right to ask about my future goals,
and to make sure nobody's time was being wasted.
[Ada] Mm.
That's why I made no arguments about it.
[Ada] Mm-hmm.
I need to remove this.
[reflective music fades]
-[Ada] Going back to the same place? -To Kilimanjaro.
[Ada] Mm.
I wonder what it'll be like this time around.
I guess it's possible my point of view will show me
something unexpected, like you.
[Ada sighs]
What have you been searching for so far away, Özgür?
[somber music playing]
Why do you choose to research death rituals?
There are so many questions I should have asked.
I've let time get away from us. [sighs]
But I thought, we could make this time count, at least.
Come.
My dad, Musa. A Sephardic Jew.
He met my mother at university. And Mom was the daughter of an Imam.
Of course, both their families disapproved.
But they were in love. They couldn't help it.
Without even a penny, the two of them married.
My dad was shunned, and my mom's family disowned her.
They had my big sister, Kader.
Then me.
And two more years later, Güneş.
Güneş had a bad heart. And they found out too late.
They said she had no more than a few years.
-The end was inevitable. -[Ada sighs]
My sister passed.
[sobbing] My girl!
[Özgür] No one from either family called after my sister died.
-Like it was a punishment. -[mother] Why?!
Like her death was the price of betraying the families.
The matter was so completely closed.
But afterward, neither my mom nor my dad were ever the same again.
Then, when I was in high school, my dad died too.
I wonder if sometimes my choosing anthropology was somehow related.
Why is it that compassion is so challenging,
when the pain people feel is universal?
Why is it that some beliefs, some traditions,
are even more important to us than our shared humanity?
Maybe that question is what's been driving me.
Mm.
It's very understandable that you don't want kids, Özgür.
I'm so sorry.
Remember on the plane,
you said you had a sister but you hadn't met her yet?
I guess something about your story called to me.
Because I lost my sister, I suppose it…
[inhales] …seemed really important…
for yours to be found.
Thank you so much, Özgür.
For being there, for helping find Deniz, for the trouble you've gone through.
Thank you, really.
You're welcome, but I should be the grateful one.
You came right when I was gonna leave, Ada.
[gentle music rises]
Mm.
What difference is there?
Go to Africa. Come back when you're finished up.
And when you do return, I'll be here.
Do you really mean that?
[Ada] Mm-hmm.
[Özgür] Are you sure you want to be with me?
Africa's so far away. A year is such a long time.
[Ada] I don't know what's gonna happen today, tomorrow, or a year from now.
But whatever does happen, I'm ready to face it with you.
-[Ada moans] -[both breathing heavily]
[music fades]
[Leyla] Erdem, what are you doing here?
You're not well yet. You need to rest.
I… thought it was better to talk here, without the kids.
Don't want them to be affected.
[Leyla sighs]
I wasn't the person who saved you.
Seems Yorgos saved us both.
I'm aware.
Have you made a decision? Will you be with Yorgos?
[Leyla scoffs]
It's that simple? I pick him or not?
I'm sorry what… what happened with that girl.
I mean, with Deniz.
It was very wrong.
You know that Deniz isn't the main issue here.
Marriage for us has become a charade we engage in for our kids.
That's what it is now.
Don't you think it's unfair to both of us?
[scoffs]
Erdem.
Please believe that I love you. Your kids also love you.
You're a wonderful father. You're self-sacrificing.
It's impossible for us to keep on being spouses anymore.
It's better to end it.
Can we put this behind us?
-[somber music playing] -[sighs]
For good?
We'll be able to do it without disturbing the kids,
and we'll make it happen without hurting each other, okay, Erdem?
-[Erdem sighs] -[Leyla huffs]
[music fades]
"It's the same as when a new child is born and we rejoice,
when someone dies,
we see it as a rebirth into a dimension we'll all go to."
That's why we attend funeral services
with flowers, music, and gifts the person who died would've liked.
It's like a way to honor them.
Even though the body may well be gone,
their love stays with us forever, and that is worth honoring.
Thank you all for these great papers.
[tearfully] Doctor, seeing you go is really hard.
[students chattering indistinctly]
I know. I'll miss you all as well.
Believe me. [chuckles]
[gentle music playing]
You positive you don't want me at the airport?
It'll be harder to leave you there.
You know about my tendency to cry at the drop of a hat.
I remember.
I admire that tendency.
I have something for you.
[music fades]
I did a bit of research about some grants. When the clinic's ready to expand,
you'll see there are plenty of funding options available.
You spent time on this for me?
-[gentle piano music playing] -[chuckles softly]
[chuckles] Özgür, my patient list is like two names.
This is just the beginning.
You're gonna need more doctors and more space.
Ada, your clinic is going to grow and grow.
Patients will be lined up outside.
You'll see. Just trust me.
You have to have worked on this during the time we weren't speaking.
[chuckles] Hit the ground running.
I can't believe you.
I believe in you and what you're doing.
[music swells]
Leave now, or I won't be able to let you.
Maybe that's what I want.
Go now.
I love you.
And I love you.
[chuckles softly]
[music fades]
And voilà!
Really, is this where I'll be sleeping?
[Sevgi] Yes, really.
What do you think?
It's amazing. Thank you.
You can rearrange whatever you like about it later.
We put all the toys out like this for now, but when you're staying here,
you can change things however you want, 'kay?
And… in here,
there are tons of new clothes just for you, honey.
[gloomy music playing]
Would you like to model a couple?
[huffs]
Mm. Not the biggest fan. This one better?
-Why don't I make both you coffee? -Sure. Hm.
[Fiko] This way.
[Sevgi] Baby girl.
You're completely safe here.
Whatever will make this place perfectly secure and happy for you,
I'm gonna get it done, you hear me?
Now, I'm thinking maybe, because dressing up is really fun,
you could just pick out something that you like, huh?
[inhales shakily]
Okay. It is your decision.
And it's your timeline, honey. When you're ready, tell me.
[Sevgi] Hm.
All right. Let's take a look.
I bet we'll find some cookies out there. [chuckles]
You know, the world is not a good place, Fiko.
[music fades]
Awful as it is, I believe it by now. It's true. Evil exists. It is real.
It's hard, but it's the truth.
And I can't do anything at all about it.
[gate creaks]
-Miss? -[Sultan] Sevgi.
I caught that freak creeping around,
trying to get his hands on our little Halime.
-[somber music playing] -I want to give a statement.
[Ada] "We are each always carrying our own deaths within us,
like the rind that carries the fruit," says Rilke.
[crow cawing]
[Ada] Since our inception,
humankind has been seeking the answer to one question.
Is there life after death?
When we die, our bodies cease to exist.
But what about the love we feel throughout our lives?
Where does it go when we die?
What does it become?
Is there love after death?
[somber music rises]
FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS
[dramatic music continues]
[music fades]