ALÇAKDAM SLOPE
A STEEP, UNREGULATED STREET, THE SITE OF A LARGE FIRE,
GULLY-LIKE, ESPECIALLY AT THE BOTTOM, WITH HALF-STONE, HALF-DIRT STEPS,
DESTINED TO BECOME A STAIRWAY.
ISTANBUL ENCYCLOPEDIA
I prepared this show on the way.
-It was all my plan. -My head exploded. Impossible.
Thank you so much.
For letting me stay at your place.
I don't know what I'd do otherwise.
I'm glad you're here, dear Zehra.
I think we'll have many great days together.
-What do you think of this place? -Boring.
Oh, you don't like it? We could have gone somewhere else.
I didn't mean that.
When your mom came to Istanbul, we came here.
That's why I brought you here.
She came to Istanbul for a day in her whole life.
And she wasted it here.
I brought her to such a boring place, so that she wouldn't come back.
It worked.
-What do you know about me? -I can't really say much.
But for the last 20 years, you and my dear mom, whom you really love…
I don't know exactly how you're related. Defining distant relatives confuses me.
-I know you don't see each other. -It's been 19 years.
There's a picture of us together when I was one, you know?
-Yes! -Yes!
You are one year old and I'm 24. My fifth year at the university.
You're wearing a green dress, and I'm wearing a red one.
I didn't know that since it was black and white, but thanks.
Do you still have it?
I do.
It caught my eye while I was packing. I brought it.
I put it in here, but I don't remember where.
You're so beautiful. You were such a beautiful baby.
I know your favorite song is "Büklüm Büklüm."
How do you know that?
My mom banned that song, that's how.
I talk about her like she's strict, but my mom is actually a great person.
-What made you listen to it? -I had a retro phase.
And I'm really into biographies.
Back then, I was losing myself on the internet.
I got curious when I stumbled upon Tülay Özer.
She was Zerrin Özer's elder sister. I'll never forget her saying,
"She hit the top with 'Büklüm Büklüm' again, but for the last time."
If my mom banned it, I would've listened to it just out of spite.
Actually, she didn't ban the song, only the Tülay Özer version.
She said, "Listen to it by Sezen Aksu. It's her song and she sings it better."
But Tülay was a no-no. I don't know why.
Your mom is strange like that.
She is.
You know why we don't talk anymore?
-That's off-limits. -She never talked about it?
She hates me that much, yet lets you stay with me, is that so?
Yeah.
Humans are so strange. So hard to understand.
First, they treat you as special. You get used to it.
You feel like you can't live without them. And then…
Then they're gone.
How can someone, after leaving, set aside their past, their pride,
and the values they once deemed worthy enough
to change their entire life for?
Isn't that unfair?
That is inconsistent and unethical,
at the very least.
I guess you can only do such a thing for someone you love very much.
Such as your beloved daughter.
I lied to you.
About what?
Mom doesn't know I'll be staying with you.
What do you mean?
This came up too soon.
But maybe it's better to talk about it before the burden weighs too much on me.
What are you saying, Zehra?
I couldn't get a dorm room. Rents in Istanbul rival Miami.
Everyone keeps saying, "Oh, Istanbul of 20 years ago…"
I had no other choice. I had to come to Istanbul.
-I've missed the first term. -And you lied to me.
I was out of options.
Either a cult house or the banned Nesrin. What could I do?
But your grandma called and asked me.
I convinced my dear granny. She's very ill, but she's still sharp.
Did you really think Mom would let me stay at your place?
Before I forget…
The keys.
And an IstanbulCard. It's already loaded.
-Thank you. -You're welcome.
By the way, you have an amazing house. It's more than I could have imagined.
Can I call you Aunt?
You can call me Nesrin.
Since we haven't set the terms yet, I wanted to ask you first.
It will be hard for me, though. But I'll try.
I mean, to call you Nesrin.
-What about formality? -However you want, Zehra.
I can get around it with passive sentences without pronouns.
You can.
By the way, we have the same one.
Speaking of which,
you'll call your mom tomorrow, and tell her everything.
Otherwise, I can't let you stay here.
Okay?
Okay.
Fine.
Good night then. Do you need anything?
No, thank you.
PRACTICAL ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY
-Good morning. -Good morning.
Did you sleep well?
Like a fox.
Sorry, that's the wrong expression. Like a log.
I'm not sure about that too, but I slept soundly.
Great. It means you felt at home.
I keep waking up in unfamiliar places.
-I'm not really a stranger. -What do you mean?
I've been dreaming for months of coming to Istanbul and staying here.
I slept in that bed many times.
Was it the same bed?
Yes and no.
For example, I drive a car in my dreams. I mean it.
I even drove a truck once.
-Getting my driver's license will be easy. -Great.
You're at an age where you dream, live, and experience.
And you?
You don't dream anymore?
Of course, I do, but probably not as often as you do.
What are you dreaming about?
Just getting out of this city.
And look.
-My dreams came true. -What do you mean?
I got an acceptance letter from the hospital I applied to in France.
-Really? -Yes!
-I'm so happy for you! -Thanks, me too.
I'll take a language test in two months, and if I pass, I'll move there right away.
Right away?
You're leaving in two months?
Yes, that's what it looks like.
Yeah, it's not easy to find a place in Istanbul.
But don't worry, I'll help you out. Okay?
Okay.
ISTANBUL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
-Good morning, guys. -Good morning.
Welcome to the first lecture of the second term,
unless there is another class at 7:00 a.m.
I am Özlem Varlık.
Throughout this term, you'll be studying in Istanbul,
a city where both ends can't meet.
This city is new and unfamiliar for some of you, and familiar for others.
Actually, it's a brave new world for you.
You will learn to look as you roam the city.
You will learn to read people's faces, the facades of buildings.
Slums, office buildings, mansions will pass before you.
Like tired, sad, sorrowful, anxious, carefree faces.
Everything will change quickly, just like you.
As the city changes, so will you.
Don't you have a past? You do, right?
You have a history. You have a past.
In this class, we will study the city's past and present times.
We will examine a book, or rather an encyclopedia.
The Istanbul Encyclopedia.
You will choose a place from this encyclopedia
and prepare a project on it.
I wonder, have any of you heard of the Istanbul Encyclopedia before?
The gentleman who arrived late, could you tell us your name?
It's Harun, Professor.
Mr. Harun, do you know the Istanbul Encyclopedia?
I do.
-Could you enlighten us? -Sure.
It's a cultural encyclopedia written by Reşad Ekrem Koçu,
but it's unfinished.
Can you also tell us in which years that encyclopedia was published?
'44 and '73.
1944 and 1973?
Thank you, you may sit. Please don't be late to class.
The Istanbul Encyclopedia by Reşad Ekrem Koçu
is being featured in an exhibition.
Please don't forget to visit it while it's still on.
-Thanks. -Sure.
If you're ready, let's begin.
This is my favorite course.
This is my favorite because once we're finished here,
we will be able to talk about interesting stuff in French.
For example, how much Beyoğlu has changed in the last 10 years.
Or the strange contradiction between
being angry at immigrants in Turkey, yet dreaming of settling in France.
Pardon me, it's a joke, of course.
I hope you don't mind.
All right, let's get started.
-Could you introduce yourself, sir? -Okay.
Please state your name, your profession, the reason why you are learning French.
Okay, my name is Kenan.
I'm a real estate agent. I have a lot of French clients.
That's why it benefits me to learn French.
That's very pragmatic.
Very good.
Hello.
My name is Nesrin Caner.
I'm a cardiovascular surgeon.
I'm learning French because I want to move to France.
Because…
Because I hate Istanbul.
I like…
I like Istanbul.
It was designed for the Imperial School of Medicine.
It was built in the Renaissance style. It's also an architectural wonder.
It was between 1846 and 1852, if I'm not mistaken.
-So, our school has a rich history-- -Were you born here?
Yes.
So, you were born in Istanbul. Which building are you?
A three-bedroom apartment with an illegal balcony extension. You?
Take a guess.
I don't know, Zehra.
I've only known you for two hours and 17 minutes.
I've known myself 19 years, 10 months, and 17 days. What difference does it make?
I'm going out with friends tonight. Would you like to join us?
-I can't. -Why not?
Well, there is so much to learn about Istanbul.
-Okay. What's your social media handle? -I'm not on social media.
-Quite mysterious. -Yeah. I'm full of mysteries.
Can I get your number then?
I don't remember. Everything is new, and so is my number.
If you change your mind, you can contact me here.
Diego.
MOSQUES
ISTANBUL ENCYCLOPEDIA REŞAD EKREM KOÇU AND ISTANBUL
NAME: ZEHRA, HER CRIME BORN IN TRABZON IN 1902
A very long hallway. It goes on and on.
There's a door, painted blue.
Every room in the hospital is yellow, but this is blue. I'm dying of curiosity.
But something tells me, "Not now, Serdar."
"You can't die before you uncover its secret."
Serdar…
You said, "Don't come to the hospital." It's okay.
You didn't want to say it on the phone. But I just can't take it anymore.
-I can't get to it before I tell you this. -Serdar…
Please stop the nonsense already.
I'm clean.
Not a single trace left.
-Really? -Really.
Really.
Can I check your results?
Forget about it, I threw it away! It's over, dear, it's all over.
-It's over. -I'm so glad, Serdar.
I'm so glad.
Let's dance. Come on.
-Right now? -Come on!
No, not right now.
Don't reject a healthy man. Come on.
I want to drink a little.
All right.
2014.
March 3rd.
Night, raining buckets.
I have to go into a bar because of the rain.
It's crowded and dark in there.
Only one thing is shining.
The most beautiful thing in the world.
I stare at her all night.
Finally, I find my courage to approach her and…
"Sorry, do you have a lighter?"
I love you so much, darling.
Believe me, everything's going to be great.
From now on, we will live life to the fullest.
Because we're alive and together.
From now on, we will hold on to each other tightly and never let go.
What is it?
Our plane tickets.
Paris. Right when you want to go.
Serdar, why would you do something like…
Welcome, Zehra.
-Good evening. -Good evening.
I'm sorry.
I'm so happy! For real?
I'm not exactly sure what to say in a situation like this,
but just assume that I said the most beautiful thing.
I appreciate it, thanks.
Let me get a glass for you.
-Thanks, I'll pass. -Especially on a night like this?
I expressed myself poorly. I should've said, "I don't drink."
What do you mean? Never?
Yes. That's why I used the present tense.
Why?
I mean… I don't consume mayo either but no one asks about it.
Sorry.
Let me help you.
Thanks.
Whoa!
It's not soda!
Sorry.
We're gonna drink all of it anyway.
Did you call your mom, Zehra?
I will.
Well…
Now, if you'll excuse me,
I'm going to a mixer with some people from the school.
I came home to change.
Have fun.
Go on.
Hello?
Alaikum salam, Mommy.
I'm fine. Everything is okay, don't worry.
No, don't worry. I checked in.
I did, Mom.
May Allah watch over you too, Mom.
-Welcome. -Thank--
-Hi. -Hi.
-Let's meet the guys. Come on. -Okay.
-Stop talking nonsense. -I'm talking nonsense?
Okay, enough.
Wow! Zehra?
Is it so obvious?
Harun can't stop talking about you, honey.
Let me introduce you. Pelin, Dodo, Selin. What would you like to drink?
-A beer? -Yeah.
-Good, okay. -Okay.
Look, Zehra just came here. We've literally just met.
So, she couldn't have heard it from me. What's social jet lag?
-Social version of jet lag. -See? Did you hear that?
Yes. But that's not enough. She should explain it a little.
So, when you fly-- Thanks.
After flying, your biological clock gets out of sync
due to the time difference. It's the social version.
See? What time is it now?
-9:00 p.m. -Melatonin is released at this hour.
But you're out. Bowel movements start to decrease around 10:30 p.m.
And you're drinking beer.
-Right. -Here's to health then.
-That's so lame. -To Amazon, then.
-To Amazon! -To Amazon!
Alright.
-Honey. -That's it.
I'll smack you on the head!
I didn't understand the jet lag thing. But I got it when Zehra explained.
Zehra. I didn't see you in the first term.
I just started.
Why is that?
I guess I like to be irregular.
Anyway. Though late, now that she's here, it means we've found our fifth member.
-Great idea, man. -Are we moving in together?
To the stage.
Here's the thing.
We're going to work on a very nice play called Amazon,
but we are missing one person.
Not missing. She let us down.
Anyway. Call it whatever you want.
A friend backed out at the last minute. Would you like to join us?
Hold on. We don't know if Zehra can pull it off yet. What's with the offer?
We don't even know the girl.
Sorry, but you can't have it all just like that, honey.
What does she have to do then, honey?
Prove herself.
Don't worry. That's why I'm here, "honey."
-Honey. -I'll smack you on the head!
Serdar.
You know how much I care about you.
Today, I received
maybe the best news of my life, and I'm so relieved.
Yes?
I want to break up.
Look, love. Listen to me.
Look, I know you've been through a lot.
Serdar, believe me, there is no point in dragging it out.
All right, okay. Let's go to couples therapy.
I'll find the best there is. Like the woman who writes TV series.
I'm moving abroad, Serdar.
You never give up.
But when I say you're just like your dad, you get mad.
What does it have to do with my dad? And yes, I won't give up.
Okay. Moving abroad isn't a problem.
I'll visit you. We can make it work somehow. Don't worry.
Serdar, we live separately,
we've set up rules, played games. It's not working out.
The longer we drag this out, the harder it gets.
Even when I was in the countryside, we were fine.
I was only coming when you wanted.
Trust me, traveling to Paris is way easier than Uşak.
-Serdar… -Don't worry, love. Don't worry.
Serdar!
I want to go there alone.
I want a fresh start.
I don't want to feel suffocated anymore by not only you,
but my sick mother, my addicted sister, chaotic Istanbul,
this nightmarish country, nothing! I'm tired, got it?
Love, please. Please. Not now, I'm begging you.
Please. Please, love. Calm down. Not now.
Now is just the time, Serdar!
-So, today is the day? -Yes!
The day I beat fucking cancer?
-Can't we talk tomorrow? -I've been waiting for it for a year!
I put my feelings aside because you had cancer,
so you wouldn't be upset, and to be there for you!
I forgot about my own pain! I kept waiting until I heard the news!
What have I done to you?
Just tell me for God's sake! What have I done?
-What have I done except love you? -I don't want it anymore!
I don't want it! But you're dragging it out!
Do I have to have a reason?
Why can't I just break up with you?
Nesrin, I'm sorry. My apologies for having cancer.
I didn't believe you the first time you said it, you know?
Yes. I just didn't.
I thought you were trying to manipulate me.
But then I convinced myself that Serdar wouldn't go that far.
Please tell me, how could you think such things?
I am a doctor but I believe in astrology now!
And you are the god of evil, a manipulative Scorpio!
Stop talking nonsense! Fuck your horoscope!
-Ten years! How can you throw it away? -I don't want it anymore!
-You wanted it, loved me until yesterday! -Today I don't! I wanna break up!
But I can't! Just let me go! Let me go!
It has nothing to do with you! Nothing to do with us! It is about me!
Tell me what it is, so I can fix it!
I've been fucking you for a year while fantasizing about other people!
I bury my face in the pillow, so you don't get upset!
Just so you don't notice!
-What the hell did I do to you? -What are you doing?
-Tell me what I did. -Serdar, stop it.
Tell me what I did.
-What are you doing? Stop! -What did I do?
-Stop hitting yourself! -Fuck off, Nesrin! Fuck off!
You fuck off!
Go fuck those assholes you're fantasizing about!
Fuck off! Of course I'll fuck them! I'd ask your permission?
-But this time, pretend you're fucking me! -Fuck off, Serdar!
When your boyfriend had cancer, you were dreaming of other men!
And now that I've beaten cancer…
Istanbul made you lost
Drugged you and messed you up
Who knows who beat the drum, oh, God On your tight skin?
Hundreds, thousands of people, oh, God
They all sang this song
Thank you!
This song is for all the sisters out there.
-Oh, yes! -For the sisters.
-Yes. -I think I know it.
-What's that? What's the song? -I'll remember.
-Come on. -I will.
Whatever you say, whatever you expect
From the Creator
Oh, God!
Or your fate
-You can't have it your way -Look at her.
Unless you fight for it
It feels like
It drowns you
It feels like
Wow! She's pretty good.
-I like you. Welcome to Amazon. -Being reborn
-Cheers. Come on. -Come on.
It feels like
Dying over and over
If you haven't suffered through
That pain and ordeal
Winding round and round your weary neck
Scattered through your fractured soul…
-You are amazing! -Guys, take one.
With questioning eyes at your door
Come on! Quick!
Your bitter memories remain
Winding round and round your weary neck
Scattered through your fractured soul
With questioning eyes at your door
Your bitter memories remain
-Bravo! -Bravo!
-Let me read your fortune. -Will you read my future?
It's a manifestation. How would I read the future?
-Mani-fes-ta-tion. -What is this?
-It's serious. Don't laugh it off. -Okay.
Turn to me.
Put your hands on your knees.
And just trust me.
I really don't trust you right now.
-Why not? -I just don't.
No. Just close your eyes and follow my ritual. All right?
Close your eyes.
The thing that you desire the most is…
-You want to be understood. -No.
What do you mean? My guess is correct then.
Close your eyes now. Don't open them.
Because I see a whale in those eyes.
Yeah, if only someone understands me like a sperm whale understands the ocean.
-I wish that. -She wished for love too.
Don't ruin the mood!
It's sad to be the stranger everywhere you go.
What else? Anything you feel obligated to do?
To be successful.
I feel like I don't have any other chance in life.
I'm one of those who can't afford to fail.
-What's your biggest problem? -Being homeless.
This is too much, Zehra. You have so many problems!
This is my weak spot. You hit me where it hurts.
-How so? -It just is. My weak spot. I don't know.
Tell me.
I feel like all my problems would go away
if I had a home where I could just be myself.
Sometimes I look around,
and I feel like I'm living someone else's life.
Like I've never been here before.
But you get used to it in time.
Suddenly, Istanbul embraces you. You feel like a local.
Yes.
So…
There's no problem. I think so.
What don't you want at all?
To become my mom.
I don't want to become my mom or her.
Are you okay?
Won't it come true? Why did this happen?
No. I don't know what will or won't happen.
But there is one thing I know.
That you are a strange person.
So are you.
-Are you okay? Is everything all right? -Yeah, I'm fine.
It's freezing.
Run!
-What are you doing? -Jump!
-Stop!
-Run! -Stop!
Jump!
Idiot!
Yes?
-I got scared. -Scared?
I was, really.
-Let's take a selfie. -Huh?
A selfie together.
-Wait… -Istanbul.
ALÇAKDAM SLOPE STREET
"Alçakadam."
It was written as "Alçakdam Slope", we saw it.
Not everything written is true.
But it's an encyclopedia. We can't say, "That's not right."
-Yeah. Yes, Professor Zehra. Was it 1900…? -'44. Embarrassed?
When was it finished though? Can't be? Alçakadam. Alçakadam is easier to read.
By the way, this is it.
All that talk about being homeless, making me read your fortune,
but your house turned out to be pretty nice.
It's not my house. It's Nesrin's.
She's kind of like my aunt.
Her name is Nesrin. Yes.
We're still sorting out the terms, so I'm a bit confused.
-It's fine. Great. -Yes.
Good night.
-Good night. -Good night.
Good night.
-Go now. -Okay, I'll go when you get inside.
-Just go, it's cold. -I'll go when you're in.
Okay, I'm going. Go now. Go.
-Go now. Go. -What? I can't hear you.
-Just go. -What?
-Tell me. -Go. You have to.
What?
Letter A: Alçakdam Slope.
It's the first place I ran down the stairs and took my first selfie
in this seven-hilled city with two coasts and stairs everywhere.
What I love the most about those stairs is
once you start running down, you can't stop.
When I reached the end of the street, my heart pounding,
I thought about its description in the encyclopedia.
"A steep, unregulated street, the site of a large fire,
gully-like, especially at the bottom,
with half-stone, half-dirt steps, destined to become a stairway."
Just like me.
It has a great potential, but has not yet been regulated.
This prediction from the past about it going to be a steep slope
made me wonder about 50 years later.
At that moment, where the past, future and present intertwined,
I felt that my story with this city had just begun.
My own Istanbul history.
Good evening.
Good night.
I'm sorry, I'm a little late.
Did you call your mom, Zehra?
I couldn't.
You promised me you would call her today, didn't you?
Didn't you?
-Yes. -Why didn't you call her?
-I just didn't. -It was a very rough day for me.
I don't have the strength to talk to you nicely.
And I made myself pretty clear.
Keep your promise. Call your mom.
You still have time to keep your promise.
Or pack your things and leave tomorrow morning. It's up to you.
What are you doing?
Zehra!
Will you calm down?
I know what your problem is.
I guess everything Mom said about you was true.
I don't need the pity of a selfish person who lacks empathy.
You know nothing about feelings because you completely shut them out.
Fine, go then! Go and see what Istanbul is really like!
Learn your lesson, return tomorrow night, and do as I said!
Subtitle translation by: M. Levent Yılmazoğlu