Original subtitles

''Second half of the 19th century. Reformation period in the Otto State.

Poll-tax from non Muslims has been removed,...

...and through new regulations, non Muslims have gained...

...a legal position on an equal footing with the Muslims.''

We'll be back by nightfall. You go on, too.

Shall we name you ''Tosbas'' ?

- l wonder if my shirt's ready. - We'll see.

- Father, will you buy me candies? - l will.

Come on.

- Now for it Yakup? - Now then.

- Vasil. - Heey.

- Come on. - Here l come!

Esma!

Esma!

Mustafa!

Mustafa!

Esma!

Mustafa!

Mustafa!

Mustafa!

Here he comes mom!

- Feriye, where's Esma? - She comes.

- Mother's asking. - Right, l'm there.

You took off your shirt? The buttons are open.

lf this smoke touches your skin, you get fit as a fiddle...

Did you know that?

Stop it...

Welcome... How was it up in the platau?

Very very nice, sister Maria.

Look, we brought you the cheese that you like.

Thank you.

Allahu akbar, allahu akbar (God is Great)

We didn't pass up the Friday prayer.

- What about the goods? - Vasil would fetch them.

Vasil, we'll perform salaat.

You better appreciate your religion.

See, we now have to perform the ablution and the salaat.

Sure. sure. And this much of load's to go on my shoulders...

The Ofli Hodja pleaded pretty much for your becoming Moslem.

They said Jesus was the son of God.

l mean... how could God ever have a son?

Now... l mean... lf he has a son, oh God forbid!

So... he must have a mother and a father, right?

Look, brothers...

Explain it to your Christian neighbours and friends.

lnvite them to the right way.

Whereas, on the day of judgement they might find...

...shelter under our beloved Prophet's flag!

Whereas, they might make use of the Heaven's blessings...

...and houris- And of its wine, certainly... you know,...

...they are fond of wine, too...

Ovit, don't you have thin salt?

l'm out of it.

As soon as the ferry arrives l'll set apart some for you.

l'll have two okes.

Go get us two coffees.

Stelyo Effendi asks you to attend the meeting tonight.

ls there anyone from Dereboyu around here?

l'm from there.

Deliver this to Mr. Mecit Fendoglu.

Allright.

Watch out for it. lt's sent by the Governor.

l will.

Will you go to Stelyo Effendi?

Mustafa's shirt's supposed not to go out of my mind.

Please send these things to the wharf.

Grandma... grandma... we're here...

Grandma where are you? Grandma.. Grandma..

Here l am...

Ho... come on...

Where have you been?

l missed you so much.

- L�tf�, give grandmother a break. - Me too.

- Thanks Dimitri. - Good riddance

He is not getting well.

Are you alright?

Sefiye... He Yakup?

He's your grandson. Yakup's son. Mustafa...

Yeah... Yeah... Who else?

Who are you?

- Have you heard about the, uh... - About what, grandpa?

So, haven't l told you?

You know, the Muscovite was pounding at the door,...

...and how we screwed them up!

No...

l'll deliver the letter to Mecit Bey.

We're waiting.

l'm looking for Mecit Bey.

- Welcome Mehmet. - l'm honoured brother Yakup.

And... the study is over?

There's one more year to go.

Well, you've nearly come to the end.

- We'll see. - Yes, you have..

What's the matter Yakup?

This letter's sent to you by the Governor. The officers handed me.

- Give Mustafa my regards. - Aye.

Yakup, let's have a coffee together.

We hired mules. A friend's waiting.

Then, my call goes for another time.

How is your father doing?

From the platau we got down to Mapavri.

l haven't seen him yet.

- Give him my kindest regards. - l will. So long, sir.

L�tf�. Why did you take my stick?

- l'm playing... - Play with yours, leave it!

- Damn with your stick!... - lt's heavy for you boy.

- You can hurt yourself. - Yeah, sure...

- Play with your own stick. - Fine... Take it!

- Mom, here comes father. - Welcome, father

Thank you

L�tfi.

You got me candies?

- Don't eat them all. - l won't.

- Alright, so long! - Good riddance.

Hey, give me some .

- That's all? - Your choice!

Fine, give me.

- lt won't fit me. - You must grow up a little.

Stop it.

- Lend mother a hand. - l'm there, mom.

We'll give the bullock to Emin.

He says he'll bring it up.

l'll never give away my Tosbas.

Fine, don't give it, and grandpa roasts it for breakfast.

What happened to the bullock...

...that was born the year before?

He has become partner of the bakery that he worked for.

He says he'll come and hold the wedding before winter.

Not much time left to the winter.

So you'll live in lstanbul, huh?

lf fate so decrees...

- ls your father home? - He's down for wood. What's it?

- He has asked for the bullock... - For doing what?

For nurturing...

You know there's no bull in the village.

- Can't it walk? - Sure it can.

- Why don't you put it down? - There are stairs.

l'll prepare a place for it.

Stop.

Stop.

You prepare your dowry. l'll do it...

Her fianc�e is coming from lstanbul.

There's a wedding soon.

- What's its name? - Tosbas.

That's how L�tf� calls it.

Are you Tosbas?

- Come on. - l'll be waiting for you tonight.

Sometimes they don't sleep. You know that l want it too.

Father's coming!

l was preparing its place.

Feriye, pick grapes, make some molasses for us.

Alright father

- Esma what's going on? - Hold it for a second.

She's just crazy.

You're lovesick!

Esma you'll fall.

Give me the lantern.

Let it down, l'll catch it.

Gas will spill on you, you'll get burned!

- You just let it down. - Here.

Clever Feriye o'mine!

You mean ''Sister'', right?

l don't know whom you've got the guts from?

Quiet. Sister Maria will hear.

She must be asleep already.

May you wear it in peace... lt's beautiful.

Why didn't you shave?

My skin gets irritated, my mother's getting suspicious.

You should have saved your shirt for the wedding.

Be quiet...

Look, how beautiful are the stars.

What's this supposed to be now?

Poison! Poison!

Drink it father, it'll make you alright.

l don't want it... lt's bitter.

Big man, don't ever think of leaving me.

Mother don't say so...

Noodles, huh? You're great mom!

Hey, where have you been? And his new shirt's on!

Don't tease the boy.

Mustafa.

Son, you are doing wrong.

She's so young and may fall in love with you.

She's Muslim, it will end badly.

Though the Reform Edict was effective, in Trabzon...

...they hung a man who professed his secret Christianity.

They said he has converted from religion.

He said he had always been an Orthodox, but it didn't work.

That's not the case anymore.

Everything has changed. There are new laws in effect.

No one shall be oppressed on because of being Christian,...

...no one shall pay extortion.

The Ottoman enacted this as a respond to pressure from Europe and Russia.

You are saying so Stelyo Effendi,...

...however, Europe, France and England are far away.

And we are here...

Greece is not in a position to defy the Ottoman.

Russia might be scrambling,...

...but at the end goes into agreement with the Ottoman.

Who shall protect us?

Not so. Europe's keeping up with the application of the laws.

Here in Trabzon they have a consulate.

Please proceed Mr Consul.

To you all l brought a message from the Tsar.

He gives you his affection.

He has forwarded the Sultan a note...

...requesting strict application of effective laws.

And the sultan has assured Tsar The Majesty.

Fear not at all.

Tsar The Majesty ordered us to inform him...

...whenever the nose of his one single Orthodox brother bleeds.

Yes...There's no ground for your fear.

On Mother Mary's Day...

...you shall altogether reveal your genuine religion.

And also inform those others who're absent here.

We've been exposed to oppression for converting into lslam.

They've charged high taxes for allowing us to live our religion.

Gizia... Extortion, in other words.

Some of us who could not afford it pretended to be Muslims.

The Church excused them.

The Church excused them for it knew our Lord shall excuse.

And you are in this state for about two hundred years.

The church is aware of the pain you have suffered.

You've gone to mosques, and participated to prayers.

You've buried your deceased in Muslim cemeteries.

But the conditions changed now.

You shall no more pay Gizia for being Christian,...

...the poorest one of you shall live his religion explicitly.

This is what the Church expects of you today.

l wonder what we were before being Christians.

How come have so many religions occurred?

ls one religion not enough? Romoto.

Do you know why they call my father ''Haci (pilgrim) S�leyman''?

He went for Hac (Pilgrimage) in an exhausted man's stead.

Do you understand?

That man was pretty wealthy.

There were plenty of others who wanted to do that for him.

But he requested this divine service of my father.

''You're a wise man'' said he to my father,...

...''if you become a pilgrim in my stead, l shall be relieved.''

My father couldn't refuse.

He had been of much help to my father.

And he donated us the mansion that we lived in.

The man died as a Pilgrim.

And my father is respected as '' Haci S�leyman''.

So how can l now say: ''You think l'm Muslim but...

...actually l'm not; Ye folks l am Orthodox.''

Let's leave a distance. We shall land seperately.

We must not be seen together.

- He will not recover. - Don't say so.

- Emine's here. - Let them sleep.

She has not brought the baby with her.

- Shall l heat up soup for you? - That would be fine.

ls Yasar weaned?

- Emine's baby. - No.

ls the baby with you?

Ahmet must have come to take it. While we were sleeping.

- Have they quarreled? - Emine is breaking up.

Ahmet and his family are converting into lslam.

- What? - Well, they have decided so.

And they haven't had the baby baptised.

Grandma...

How are you grandma?

Your husband has kidnapped the baby.

- What? - Kidnapped.

Filthy thug! How come didn't l wake up?

How come couldn't l hear? He's just a thief, not a father!

He stole my boy, he stole my baby, my baby's ill.

Uncle's nephew Yasar's going to be fine.

Uncle's nephew's going to be fine.

L�tf� what are you doing? The kid's going to freeze.

Yasar is very ill.

l'm holding it to the fog, he'll be alright.

Emine, mother, Yasar's here, l'm bringing him.

- Were was he? - L�tf� has taken him out.

- Go put your clothes on you. - Has he taken the baby out?

Go, go to bed, l'll kill you!

Sefiye, don't let the baby weep, just nurse Yakup.

That's what l'm doing, man.

We must have him baptised right away grandmother.

My baby's going to die, without ever making his entrance into heaven.

We will, daughter. Alright.

Let me take them, please come in.

- Welcome. - Thank you lad.

Welcome. Yo must be tired, get some rest.

No no... let's perform the deed.

l'll be outside, father.

Emine!

What's this, a raid?

l'm here to take my wife and my son.

My sister would come if she wishes.

Your sister is my wife. l'll take her home.

Are you a gangster or something?

Go in!

Did you ask her opinion when converting to lslam?

We'd been discussing this all the time,...

...Mustafa, don't you know that?

Are you not aware of all that we've suffered?

Was there any other chance?

On this side, there's the fear of turning up...

...and on the other, there's humiliation by Christians...

l'm fed up with it.

lf my sister wants she'd come with you,...

...but you can't say ''l'll take her''. Do you get that?

Good then, let me talk to her.

- No way. -Why not?

Amen.

Shut that door. The child will freeze.

What a stubborn woman are you...

He was burning in fever, l was scared.

l wanted him to be christened.

My son's fine, don't talk as if he'll die! Lets go.

You christened him. What more do you want?

Well and good

Without you, my grandmother...

...would never have sent my sister back with him.

Nothing to do...

By converting to lslam they only harmed themselves.

We were forgiven only for Jesus sake.

We... Ortodoxes?

Christians. Jesus suffered those pains just for our being forgiven.

They committed a big sin deserting Jesus.

So, is my sister committing a sin now?

She's not converting.

As the Church, we have consent to his.

We live under the Rule of lslam.

There are even mothers and wives of the Sultans,...

...who are actually Christians.

What if it had been the opposite way?

l mean if a Muslim girl had married a Christian?

This is something accepted easier by us.

The generation proceeds over the male.

But lslam would not forgive this.

lts penalty... goes even to death...

The whole day your were cloistered in here.

Don't mind, l would have gone if l had wanted.

Who would recognise me? We had a little chat.

lt's nearly dark, l'll leave shortly.

- Who's that man? - Which man?

That man in the room, you were with him

Grandpa's friend from the army.

- He's young, isn't he? - He looks young.

Who will help me?

Mustafa, Mustafa wake up.

Stand up son. The Azan is recited.

- You must go to the salaat. - Father can go.

He's gone to the wood, for lumbering.

One man from our house must go. Grandfather is unable.

But, not everyone goes to the mosque.

We are not everyone. We should go.

Girls will be impressed!

Choose a girl, we make your wedding.

- Mehmet! Mehmet! Come on mate! - Coming.

Mustafa.

Where have you been?

College boy keeps us waiting.

Ooo Mehmet welcome.

Thank you Mustafa. l heard your grandfather was ill.

- How is he now? - Well, so so...

- Hello. - Hello.

Man, is this new?

Sula, come! Emine!

Horon has started!

My brother's coming!

Brother Sami, hello.

- Welcome - Thanks

Welcome

- Welcome Mustafa. - Thank you.

- How much will your grapes be? - Four or five baskets.

ln the morning we'll start with yours, then pass to ours.

Ok.

- Good night. - See you in the morning.

Will you come tonight?

l'll signal you if they have slept.

Come on Esma, walk!

- What you looking at? - What were you speaking about?

l asked her where we'd pick the grapes.

Sure, what else...

- L�tf�. - Stop it!

You know, that pinch of white in your hair, Tosbas has it too.

- Go away. - Hasn't it?

You go home. Move!

What's the matter?

Our folks came to pay a visit to your grandfather.

lf you need anything, just tell us.

He'd always been of much help to us.

May God bless you.

- Mustafa? - lt's me father.

Ayse, take L�tf� to bed.

- Kid doesn't know about it? - He's so young.

All these troubles will come to an end.

Things will never change as far as the older ones are concerned.

We have to come forward. We, the younger ones.

The Laws are favourable. What else are we waiting for?

We shall say: ''We're Orthodox!''

- Good night. - Good night.

- Don't be late tomorrow. - We won't. Good night.

Good night Mehmet.

- l'll see you off. - Thank you but there's no need.

My pleasure.

Good night.

- Thank you. - Good night.

Those coming back from the wedding are shooting.

What's going on?

Let's split into two. Lest they should see us as a crowd.

l don't want it father.

Don't want to disclose that we're Orthodox.

They think it's so easy.

For all this time people have recognized us as Muslims...

Father, l'm in love with Esma.

lf we disclose it, l can't have her.

Even if we don't disclose it, how are the things going to be?

With a Muslim girl.

- l'll see my way. - What way, son?

We've married only those like us.

Your grandfather and grandmother, your mother and l, or your sister...

Whether we're in love or not...

Esma.

- Signalled you last night. - We had guests.

They visited my grandfather.

- l waited until midnight. - l just couldn't...

Esma.

lt's fine, l'm going to pour grapes into the basket.

Tobacco smugglers!

Hold on. l'll take you down.

Girl, you're beautiful. Are you Greek?

We're on the way to Persia. Shall l take you with me?

l'd wrap you in Persian Silk, honey.

- Filthy bastard! - Stop or l'll you bump you off!

- Hold on, Mehmet's there. - Get the hell out of here.

Stop. Fendoglu's son!

Well done pal...

Sister Maria, come on, tell us a tale.

Please sister.

ln the place where Sumela Monastery is found today,...

...there used to live a very beautiful fairy girl.

She was so beautiful that even the moon envied her beauty.

You told this one yesterday, in the mill. Tell us another.

Tell us about your foster sister.

- Come on Maria. - No. l can't tell that one.

l saw her in my dream last night.

ls she telling a tale?

C'mon sister... Oh, she fell asleep again.

She doesn't want to tell about her foster sister.

Does she have one?

Yes, and a very beautiful girl was she.

So she falls in love with someone. They love each other very much.

But the one she loves turns out to be Christian.

No, wait, he's Muslim but herself was Christian.

So they were of different religions?!

Christian or Muslim, everyone reacts against their union.

lt's panau season. So, everyone goes up to the platau.

Her father locks her into the house.

The boy is up on the panau. They are madly in love.

Everyday, over the hills she watches the panau, crying.

One day she sees a smoky cloud that comes over from the sea.

She dreams of melting into the cloud...

...and rising up to the panau, embracing her lover.

And then?

Then she burns herself, burns so that her smoke joins the cloud.

So she goes up to the panau.

She finds and hugs all over her beloved one's body.

Young man's body gets warmer and warmer.

Everyone up there is dressed in wool, but the young man sweats.

He understands everything. He understands that his beloved...

...has burned herself to reach him, embodying her smoke into the cloud.

He says ''Ye people, ye Muslims and Christians...

...you joined hands to prevent our happiness. You split us apart.

And you won't be destined to happiness.''

Then he burns himself. His smoke joins the smoke of his beloved.

Come here, let Dereboyu people see you.

- What's your name? - Alex.

- Where are you from? - From Yomra.

You're Hasan, the Convoy Master, right?

You'll never enter this piece of land again. Got it?

Put down the trivet, lad.

Mother, we'll bury him next to his father.

There are tens of people like us in that cemetery.

She doesn't allow him a breathing space.

To which cemetery do you want to be buried?

S�leyman.

Where do you want to be buried?

S�leyman... Where do you want to be buried?

l don't want to be buried.

S�leyman s�leyman where.

Come grandma. Let him sleep.

l have to speak with him while he's still conscious.

We have to learn where he wants to be buried.

- Good night to you all. - Good night

- Thanks Ismail, you go. - No, let me stay.

- There's light. - Good then.

ln the morning we'll go together to collect malosses.

Alright.