When We Leave 2011

Umay, portrayed by Sibel Kekilli, finds herself trapped in a suffocating life in the suburbs of Istanbul with her abusive husband Kemal, played by Ufuk Bayraktar, and their young son Cem, represented by Nizam Schiller. Haunted by her memories of home in Berlin, Umay reaches a breaking point: she gathers her belongings and resolves to leave her troubled marriage behind.

With hope in her heart, she returns to her childhood home in Berlin, dreaming of a fresh start and longing for her family’s support. However, her aspirations are swiftly crushed when her father Kader, played by Setter Tanröigen, learns of her defiance. Insisting that she must return to her husband as per tradition, Kader orders her back. In a moment of desperation, Umay declares her autonomy by burning her passport, leading to tension within the family. Her mother warns her harshly, “Stop dreaming!” as her siblings face the community’s disdain due to Umay’s choices.

As the struggle intensifies, Umay’s older brother, Mehmet (Tamer Yigit), and father conspire to kidnap her son Cem, intending to restore the family’s honor by returning him to Kemal. Fearing for her child’s safety, Umay escapes to a women’s shelter, embarking on a brave new chapter of resilience. In this sanctuary, she finds solace and strength, and through her work in the kitchen, she meets Stipe, played by Florian Lukas, a colleague who ignites a spark of hope and companionship.

As time progresses, Umay begins to establish her independence; she secures her own apartment and carves out a fulfilling life away from her oppressive past. Yet, a deep sense of longing for her family lingers. Time and again, she attempts to reach out to her mother and younger brother, Acar (Serhad Can), but her efforts are met with silence and rejection. Meanwhile, her brothers and father grapple with a harrowing decision: Acar is faced with the grim task of restoring their family’s honor through the ultimate betrayal—killing his beloved sister.

In this gripping tale of sacrifice, resilience, and the quest for freedom, Umay’s journey reveals the complexities of familial bonds and the harsh realities facing women seeking autonomy within a rigid societal framework.