Hüseyin Yilmaz came to Germany in 1964 as an Anatolian guest worker. Shortly before he is about to be naturalized, he realizes he is not sure he wants to become a German citizen. Unexpectedly, he reveals to his wife, children and grandchildren that he has bought a house in his old hometown and that he expects them to go there and help him renovate it. Reactions are mixed. Hüseyin reassures everyone that he only wants to use it as a holiday home; that he does not want to return there permanently. Canan is afraid to travel; she is pregnant and neither her parents nor her grandparents know. Episodes from the past are meshed with those from the present. Canan tells us how her grandfather eloped with his wife, how he left for Germany to be able to support his wife and children; how he later fetched his family, and what problems he was confronted with upon his arrival in Germany; how the family took their first holiday in Anatolia together and the first signs of alienation. Canan reminisces about the past while the extended family travels to Anatolia again.
Hüseyin falls asleep during the bus ride there, never waking up again. The shock of his death leads to long overdue talks between members of the family. Canan admits that she is expecting a child – a fact her grandfather had known all along. The estranged brothers Muhamed and Veli quarrel and reconcile. Hüseyin is buried in his native soil. The family returns to Germany – only one of them, to everyone’s surprise, has decided to stay in Anatolia. Moving into the present, little Cenk gives a speech at Palais Schaumburg in front of the German Chancellor to which his grandfather was actually invited.
Director: Yasemin Samdereli, colour, 95 min., 2009-11
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