My Father and My Son

The film centers on the morning of 12 September 1980 when a military coup imposes a curfew and upheaval. It traces the immediate effects of political turmoil on ordinary people and their families, then follows years of consequence, including imprisonment and illness. The period captures a country in transition, where personal lives collide with national events.

The story unfolds across both urban and rural Turkey, starting with Sadık's studies in Istanbul and then returning to the family farm on the Aegean coast. The coastal village and farm setting ground the family drama amid changing times. The contrast between city life and countryside highlights the tension between modern ambitions and traditional expectations.

❤️ Family

Family ties anchor the story as generations clash over duty, love, and survival. Sadık's commitment to his ideals challenges his father’s expectations, and the film follows the fragile bonds that hold the family together through exile, illness, and loss. The arrival of Deniz brings a new focus on legacy and memory.

⚖️ Politics

The narrative is driven by political activism and its costs. Sadık's involvement with left-wing politics leads to disownment, arrest, and torture, reflecting the real pressures of political dissent under a military regime. The coup reshapes families and friendships, forcing hard choices about allegiance and survival.

💔 Trauma

The film portrays the physical and emotional toll of oppression and violence. Imprisonment and torture take a heavy toll on Sadık's health, while grief strikes when his wife dies during childbirth. The trauma reverberates through Deniz and the elders on the farm.

📚 Memory

Deniz's world of comic books acts as a bridge between past and present. Memory functions as a way to understand and cope with the trauma around him, while the older generation narrates history through personal stories. Memory becomes both a shield and a lens for the family’s experiences.