The movie opens with a scenic view of the plains and terrain.
A girl lies on the ground, and she seems unconscious.
It seems she's been injured and thrown to the lakeside.
Her cattle move here and there as an old man comes in front of her.
He looks at her tattered clothing and assumes the worst.
The girl, Meryem, has her clothes ripped from various parts.
It's a very heart-wrenching scene.
She is deeply injured and the old man carries her away.
As the sun goes down on the horizon, the man carries the unconscious girl back to the house.
The passers-by look at Meryem's condition and start gossiping about it.
The man comes back, and all the family members are stunned to see Meryem's condition.
She soon wakes up and looks around.
Meryem's still shaken by her trauma and whatever bad things have happened to her.
She's kept in a shed as a woman comes in and places some food in front of her, urging her
to eat or else she'd die soon.
The woman locks her in again, as her family members try to get her to talk about what
happened to her.
They think she's turned into a mad woman as she can't even remember what happened.
Meryem's father, Tahsin, goes to a factory-like place.
The factory owner, who is also Tahsin's brother, Ali, tells Tahsin that it is very disheartening
as Meryem is like a daughter to him as well.
They all think Meryem's honor has been snatched away as she got used.
Ali ruthlessly calls Meryem a pleasure giver for being out alone and getting used, as she's
seemingly torn her family's dignity apart.
He curses her to die.
Tahsin tries to calm Ali down.
The villagers have started talking about Meryem, calling her a sinner.
Ali tells Tahsin to get Meryem out of the village and kill her as she has tarnished
the village's honor and discipline.
The woman, who happens to be Meryem's stepmother, comes to Meryem's shed and tells her that
she's sinned badly and will have to repent for it.
As Meryem doesn't have a birth certificate, killing her wouldn't be a problem.
Her stepmother tells her to wash up as per the customs of honor killing.
The village has decided she'd be better off dead.
Her stepmother leaves a long rope for her to hang herself, saying maybe there's a slight
chance she'll go to heaven if she sacrifice herself while repenting.
Meryem agrees.
Early the next morning, Meryem ties the rope to the ceiling, ready to do the deed.
She prays to God one last time before wrapping the rope around her neck.
Her stepmother sees her trying to hang herself, and Meryem refuses to hang herself anymore
as she sees the happy look on the woman's face.
Ali tells Tahsin to get rid of Meryem as quickly as he can as the hill village is waiting.
They plan to lie to Meryem, saying they've found a suitor for her far away and she has
to go meet him.
She'd be eliminated along the way.
Ali asks Tahsin to tell the same story to all the villagers.
The killing has to be done by a male member of the family, so they wait until Cemal, Ali's
son, comes back from the military.
Meryem gets flashbacks of her stepmother mistreating her and starts cleaning herself up.
On the other hand, a van pulls up in a construction zone and a young man walks out.
He greets everyone he meets.
This young man is none other than Cemal.
Meryem's stepmother comes and excitedly greets him.
Tahsin doesn't say a word, and he doesn't know how to ask Cemal to kill Meryem.
Gleaming with pride and joy, Ali chats with Cemal.
Then, he tells Cemal about his mission and that he has to carry on.
Cemal isn't too happy about it, but he also can't do anything.
Meryem is told she's going to Istanbul with Cemal in the morning.
Ali gives Cemal a sum of money and a man to carry out the task.
Cemal is hesitant, but Ali insists.
In the morning, a woman comes to Meryem and helps her bathe.
She asks Meryem who did the inhumane thing to her, but Meryem remains silent.
She just tells the woman that Cemal is taking her to get married and start a new life.
The old woman tries to persuade Meryem to tell the culprits name so that she can be
left alone and not eliminated from earth.
But Meryem is too stubborn.
The old woman, who seems to be Meryem's aunt, caresses her and hugs her one last time.
Tahsin tells Cemal that he can't do anything to protect his daughter, and he's torn apart
by seeing his daughter's fate.
He begs Cemal to eliminate her painlessly and not think bad of her, as if she's an angel.
Cemal and Meryem walk away from the village.
Meryem's stepmother is happy that she's going.
The two of them are driven away and into the hands of death.
They pass through hills and mountains without uttering a single word.
Cemal wakes up from a bad dream to see Meryem gone.
He frantically looks for her and finds her outside the washroom.
He pulls her away and berates her for going without his permission.
He threatens not to speak to anyone from now on, and Meryem nods her head in fear.
Cemal doesn't want to kill her, but has no choice.
The two soon reach Istanbul and walk around.
They get on a boat and continue traveling to the main city.
Meryem is very happy and excited to be in the city.
Cemal meets his brother in the city, whom Meryem thinks is going to marry her.
She meets a woman who tells her this isn't really Istanbul and feels pity for Meryem,
knowing what's about to happen.
Cemal tells his brother, Yakup, the whole story as well, and expresses how he couldn't
get himself to kill her.
Yakup is stunned to see Cemal's viewpoint and yells at him for trying to slaughter her
like a pig.
Cemal tries to defend himself, but Yakup fully supports Meryem and tells Cemal it's not even
her fault.
Cemal tells him how Meryem hasn't told her culprits name, so it must be her sleeping
around.
Yakup cannot believe Cemal.
He taunts Cemal for being such a heartless man, but Cemal retorts, saying he can't go
to the village with Meryem alive.
He has to eliminate her.
Yakup knows that the village would find and eliminate her if they knew she's alive, so
he doesn't say anything anymore.
Cemal and Meryem leave the very next day and walk towards a huge bridge.
Meryem is extremely scared of what's about to happen.
He tells her to jump from the extremely high bridge and call upon God for the last time.
He screams at her for tainting their name and sinning.
He asks her to jump or he will shoot her, and Meryem desperately tells him she's not
at fault.
She tells Cemal to send her message to her father, saying she's going back to her mother
and has done nothing to shame Tahsin.
Meryem looks down into the deep fall and is frightened.
She tells Cemal she will blindfold herself to not see the height she's standing on.
She prepares to jump but is pulled away by him.
Cemal is in a corner, crying and grabbing his head in his hands.
Meryem tries to console Cemal as he stands up and walks up.
Meryem follows suit.
They look at the bustling city, and Cemal gets a call.
He throws his phone away and the two keep walking.
In another scene, an old man is sleeping in bed with a young woman.
He jerks up as if after having a bad dream and quickly grabs some medicine.
He goes to the bathroom and rinses his face.
He takes some deep breaths and sits back down.
He takes his car for a drive around with a woman.
She asks the man, Irfan, if he's okay.
There's something wrong with him, but he doesn't say anything.
Irfan is fed up with his life and tells his wife, Aysel, that he's going away to discover
something profound.
He is bothered by his monotonous life and tells Aysel he'll come back to her one day.
Irfan reaches his mother's house and hugs her tightly.
He tells her he'll stay for the night, and she prepares a feast for him.
He tells his mother that he is taking a break from his hectic life and repents for all that
he's done and missed.
He's extremely ashamed of his life and how he ignored everyone to live his luxurious
life.
He begs her for forgiveness, and his mother sobs in pain and grief.
Irfan livs with his mother for a while, reminiscing about all his past memories.
He goes on a boat, all alone.
He throws away all his medicines and just decides to enjoy his leisure time.
Cemal and Meryem are walking across the city as Cemal takes her to his friend, Selo.
Cemal tells Selo about everything and asks for a place to stay.
Selo gladly agrees and offers a resort for them to stay at.
Cemal thanks Selo profusely.
Meryem and Cemal reach the resort, and there are lots of fish.
The manager there tells them to take care of the resort and the fish.
The man goes away, and only Cemal and Meryem are left now.
The two stay at the resort and start eating their breakfast.
Meryem chokes on a fish bone and Cemal helps her.
The two liv comfortably there with no other place to go.
Meryem settles down and takes care of the house and cattle.
Cemal and Meryem slowly get closer, but one day, it pours heavily as Cemal sees a very
bad dream of Meryem flirting with a man.
This angers him and he attacks Meryem, thinking it's real.
He threatens to eliminate himself if Meryem lies, and Meryem is terrified.
She keeps on repeating that she's done nothing wrong, and he lets her go.
Irfan suddenly comes to the place where Meryem and Cemal liv.
Ifran asks Cemal for a place to live, and Cemal agrees to let him stay there.
The next day, Irfan and Cemal ride the boat for a while when Meryem comes.
Cemal tells Meryem to stay and that they'll be back soon.
Cemal soon gets a call from Selo saying Yakup called.
Cemal tells Selo that everything is fine and there's nothing to be worried about.
Cemal tells Selo to tell everyone that Meryem is dead and to spread the word.
He quickly hangs up, and Irfan looks at him, all confused.
Irfan asks him about it, but Cemal doesn't say anything.
Irfan and Cemal come back to see Meryem sitting on the shore.
The man who had left the resort is back.
He asks Cemal and Meryem to go away now.
Irfan tells them he'll find them a place and help them.
They agree, and the three of them travel together.
Irfan asks Cemal what he plans to do now, and Cemal replies that he'll figure out a
way.
He asks Cemal to work for him, and Meryem could work as a maid.
Cemal isn't sure, but agrees anyway, having no other choice.
Meryem is happy that she's got a job, too, and takes care of the boat.
Cemal doesn't tell Irfan anything about Meryem, and Irfan thinks Meryem is his wife.
They keep on traveling in Irfan's boat.
Irfan takes care of both of them gladly.
In the boat, Meryem and Cemal sit in silence.
The next morning, Irfan goes shopping and leaves the boat with Cemal and Meryem.
Meryem is impressed by Irfan's generosity, but Cemal warns him to not trust anyone so
blindly and to not call him brother anymore in front of Irfan.
They pretend to be a couple in front of Irfan.
Meryem takes care of the whole boat and cleans as well as cooks it.
One day, she finds a gun under Cemal's bed but doesn't say a word.
But Ali gets a vague idea that Meryem is alive after Cemal never returns.
He goes to Yakup, who's scared to see his father after so long.
He asks Yakup where they are, but he refuses to answer.
He tells Ali he doesn't know, but Ali yells at him.
He had disowned Yakup years ago for leaving the village and plans to do the same with
Cemal.
Yakup is fed up with his father and asks him to get out, because Cemal came and left without
telling him anything.
He adds that he has no idea where Cemal went.
Ali storms out, saying he'll kill Meryem no matter what.
Cemal helps Irfan load and unload the boat.
Irfan compliments and thanks both Meryem and Cemal for taking such good care of his boat.
Irfan gives them both gifts to thank them for their help, and they gladly accept them.
Meryem sees that she's been given a beautiful dress and puts it on.
Irfan teaches Cemal how to use a radio to navigate the boat.
Cemal looks at Meryem and is dumbfounded because she looks so beautiful.
That night, Cemal and Ifran start drinking and have dinner.
Ifran is grateful to have found people like them.
Irfan tells Cemal about Meryem and her intelligence.
Irfan asks him why the two of them left their village and came this far off.
Cemal simply replies that it happened because of circumstances.
Irfan nods and compliments Cemal for being so straightforward and innocent.
Irfan pours his heart out and tells him how he's always wanted to be straightforward as
well.
Irfan tells Cemal how he was also in the military, and the two of them share their own experiences.
Cemal asks Irfan why he's here in a boat all alone, and Irfan also replies that it's because
of circumstances.
Cemal doesn't ask any further questions.
They sing and dance on the boat, but Cemal falls down.
They laugh and laugh until all of Cemal's sorrow comes out and he starts crying.
The two pass out as they drink the night away.
On the other hand, Ali goes around the whole of Istanbul looking for Meryem and Cemal.
He interrogates everyone he knows about Cemal.
He soon finds out about Cemal and Meryem living together.
He sends a goon after them and eliminate Meryem.
The goon goes around asking everyone about Cemal.
Irfan proposes to teach Meryem some new skills.
He throws her a rope to learn the skills, but Meryem gets flashbacks of her being forced
to hang herself.
She cries and runs out of there, leaving Irfan confused.
Cemal tells Irfan that she's just a coward.
Meryem goes on crying and sobbing because of the flashback, and Irfan is worried about
her.
He comes to talk to her and teaches her about tying a knot gently so as not to scare her.
Irfan walks away from Meryem so he does not make him angry.
The three of them continue sailing away, going to a far away destination.
One day, a gorgeous lady stops by the boat.
She turns out to be Irfan's student, and they have a long chat.
Cemal continues staring at the woman's body.
Meryem brings her a glass of water, and she's shocked to see a woman so free.
Meryem tells Cemal that the woman is very beautiful, but Cemal retorts by saying it's
all makeup and Meryem herself is way prettier.
Meryem blushes at the compliment as Cemal walks away.
The woman leaves soon.
In the kitchen, Irfan makes the food as Meryem watches.
He dances and makes Meryem laugh, which makes Cemal jealous.
Irfan calls Cemal and asks him to dance with Meryem, but the two of them stand in silence.
He asks Cemal to help with some chores, but Cemal says it's a woman's job, to which Irfan
retorts, saying there are no women's jobs or men's jobs on his boat.
He urges Cemal to work, and he begrudgingly agrees.
At night, Meryem looks out to the moon, and Cemal accompanies her.
They talk about the moon and their collective childhood memories.
Meryem teases Cemal and talks about how stern he's always been.
She asks him if they'll ever be able to go back to the village, and Cemal says no.
She blames herself for everything that has happened, and Cemal asks her to forget it.
The next morning, Meryem brings Irfan a glass of water, and he asks her about her education.
She replies, saying she only studied till the second grade.
He teaches her some things about maps, and she's really excited to learn about it all.
He tells her stories about sailors, and Meryem listens eagerly.
At a small bazaar, Irfan sends Cemal to get some groceries, and Meryem tags along.
Irfan tries to give Cemal his salary, but he declines.
They get all their groceries and come back to the boat.
Irfan hands a gift to Meryem, but she doesn't take it.
Irfan insists, and she accepts it.
It's a necklace, and Meryem loves it.
Cemal sees this and doesn't say anything.
As Irfan walks away, Cemal lets his anger out and corners Meryem for accepting the gift.
He yells at her for letting a stranger touch her.
She asks him to calm down, but he's ready to hit her.
He calls her all sorts of names when Irfan finds them.
Meryem screams as Cemal tugs the necklace off of her.
Irfan is perplexed.
Irfan asks about this, but Cemal tells him to mind his business rudely.
Irfan tells him he feels betrayed.
He tells them he didn't like being lied to and that was the reason he left Istanbul in
the first place.
Cemal angrily drags Meryem and they get off the boat.
Irfan is upset as the necklace he gave her is lying on the floor.
Meryem has finally had enough and asks Cemal what they're doing.
Cemal asks her to shut up, but this makes Meryem more enraged.
She defends Irfan and yells at Cemal for always being so angry.
She tells him she has done nothing wrong.
She calls him sick, and Cemal doesn't say anything.
Meryem decides she's done with Cemal bossing her around and walks away.
Cemal gets angrier and walks away as well.
Meryem gets scared and follows him because she has nowhere to go.
Cemal calls Yakup, only to find out that Ali has been looking for them everywhere.
Yakup tells him to be careful, and Ali can go to any lengths.
Cemal agrees, and the two of them walk away into the bustling city.
Irfan starts looking for the two as well.
They walk and walk with nowhere to go.
Finally, Irfan finds them and Cemal apologizes to him.
Irfan forgives them.
That's when Meryem tells Irfan the truth: they're cousins.
Irfan says nothing and understands that circumstances must have been bad.
He asks the two to live with him and give him company again.
With that, he walks away, and Meryem tells Cemal to come along.
They all return to the boat when Irfan's wife finds them.
Aysel and Irfan sit together for dinner, and she asks him why he's doing all this.
Irfan just replies that he's living life how he pleases.
He tells her he's sick of everything, but Aysel just taunts him.
She says he's just jealous that she's making more money than him.
Irfan tries to stop her, but she doesn't.
She blames him for abandoning her and calls him out for being so close to Meryem.
Irfan tries to defend himself, but Aysel doesn't hear it.
Irfan compliments Meryem on her maturity, which enrages Aysel even more.
She hands him the divorce papers and walks away.
Irfan doesn't really seem to care about all this.
As Aysel is about to leave, she warns Cemal about Irfan's intentions.
Cemal doesn't say anything.
In the boat, Irfan compliments Meryem and says Aysel is jealous of her.
Cemal doesn't like the proximity between Meryem and Irfan and steps in.
Irfan understands that Cemal indirectly threatens Irfan.
Meryem goes back to the kitchen without a word.
Some moments later, other men on a boat tease Meryem, and she hides.
Cemal comes out and is about to beat them up, but they run away.
Irfan stops him and asks what's wrong, but Cemal stays silent.
At night, Irfan tells Cemal that he's very unpredictable and rude.
He urges him to soften up, to which Cemal replies that the men deserved it.
Irfan adds that Cemal would've gone mad with jealousy if Meryem was his girlfriend, to
which he replies that they don't have girlfriends or boyfriends where they come from.
Irfan, tells him that it isn't good to eliminate women either.
When asked how he knows about it, Irfan simply replies that it's in the news.
Cemal tells him there's a story for every elimination, and no man talks to a woman who's
related to Cemal.
Irfan understands.
The next morning, Irfan asks Meryem to hand him a bucket, and the two of them go for a
sail.
Cemal has passed out drunk.
When he wakes up, he finds her gone.
He sees that both Meryem and Irfan are gone.
On the other hand, Meryem and Irfan are both collecting fish, and Irfan teaches her a lot
of things.
Cemal's rage gets out of control and he is ready to kill Irfan.
Meryem asks Irfan a lot about Istanbul, and they look after cattle.
It seems their relationship is fully platonic, but Cemal doesn't see it.
Irfan is fascinated by all the stories Meryem tells him about her grandmother.
They chat heartily and laugh.
Meryem gets emotional as she remembers her home.
Cemal sees Irfan and Meryem come back, and he helps them up.
He tightly slaps Meryem, and she falls to the ground.
Irfan tries to stop him, but Cemal fights him too.
He keeps on hitting Meryem and threatening Irfan.
He starts beating up Irfan as well, and he chokes him with a rope.
Meryem fires a gun, and Cemal looks up.
Meryem is frustrated and yells at how no one understands her.
Meryem tries to kill herself, but Cemal stops her.
She falls to the ground and sobs incessantly.
She falls ill, and Irfan checks on her.
Irfan sternly tells Cemal that Meryem is like a daughter to him.
He urges Cemal to admit he loves Meryem.
Cemal stays silent.
Irfan tells him to stop being so angry and to start planning a good life for the two
of them.
Cemal tells Irfan that she's tainted and that she's been raped.
Irfan tells him he can't blame Meryem for what happened and to accept her for who she
is.
Cemal finally admits that he loves Meryem.
Cemal apologizes for his behavior earlier, and they laugh, promising to leave things
in the past.
Cemal is finally carefree and happy.
Irfan tells Cemal to make Meryem her birth certificate.
Irfan tells him he'll help them and they can go to some place where no one recognizes them.
Cemal is happy, and Meryem stays in the boat when she's suddenly taken away.
Cemal notices something is wrong, but it's too late.
The goons take her away.
Cemal and Irfan run after them, but the goons drag her away.
Meryem tries to run away, but the goons follow.
Meryem screams for mercy as Ali runs after her and throws her into the water.
Cemal defends her.
It turns out the person who brutally used Meryem was none other than Ali, and that's
why he wanted her dead.
Cemal realizes this and cries as well.
Meryem is screaming because of the flashbacks and begs her uncle to let her go.
Cemal then goes to shoot his father as he realizes the crimes he has committed.
Tahsin is shocked to learn that his daughter was used by his own brother.
He can't get himself to shoot his father and walks away.
Tahsin shoots Ali, but Cemal doesn't care.
Irfan is happy that justice has been served and sails far away.
Meryem and Cemal liv happily ever after, thanking Irfan for leading them in the right direction.
They pray that they will meet him again in the end.