Mediterranean July – Türkiye

Our trip to the Mediterraneo stops in Turkey with the presentation of a film screening (Ayla: The Daughter of War), organised by the Embassy of Turkey in collaboration with the Spanish Embassy in Ireland, and the support of the Instituto Cervantes Dublin.

Synopsis: In 1950, amidst the ravages of the Korean War, Sergeant Süleyman stumbles upon a half-frozen little girl, with no parents and no help in sight. Frantic, scared and on the verge of death, this little girl captures the heart of Süleyman, who risks his own life to save her, smuggling her into his Army base and out of harm’s way. Not knowing her name and unable to communicate with her, Süleyman names her Ayla, in reminiscence of the moon on the fateful night during which they met (the Turkish word Ayla refers to the radiant halo around the moon). The two form an instantaneous and inseparable bond, and Ayla, almost effortlessly, brings an uncanny joy to the Turkish brigade in the grip of war. As the war comes to a close, however, Süleyman’s brigade is told that they will be returning home. Süleyman cannot bear abandoning Ayla and does everything within his power to take her with him. After repeated failure, he is forced to give Ayla to an orphanage but doesn’t give up on the hope of one day reuniting with her. Will the two ever get back together?