It’s the beginning of summer. In a small village in the north of Turkey Lale and her four sisters are on their way home from school, innocently playing with local boys. But prying village eyes view their games with suspicion and the girls’ behaviour – and refusal to repent – quickly causes a scandal among the family.
The dawn of adolescence, along with social views on what is appropriate behaviour, marks a significant change for the girls; no longer are they allowed to live as free spirits. Instead, their schoolwork is replaced by cookery classes and suitors for marriage are sought out.
Touching on and delicately handling sensitive cultural issues, Deniz Gamze Ergüven deftly explores the paradoxes and limits of the coming-of-age narrative for young Turkish women. The film both challenges and celebrates rural Turkish life; ultimately in love with the culture while critical of social and familial rule. Critically lauded and presented at films festivals worldwide, this is guaranteed to be one of the most talked-about films of the year.
