Welcome back to Movie Recap. Today I'm gonna show you a 2017 Turkish war-drama film called,
Ayla: The Daughter of War. Spoilers ahead. Watch out and take care.
The movie begins during the invasion of North Korea to South Korea after World War II,
wherein Seol happily plays with a butterfly when suddenly her parents call her from behind,
surprising Seol with a homemade bicycle that her father made. Afterward, Seol rides the
bike while her father assists her to drive when suddenly an explosion occurs in their village,
killing some of their neighbors. Because of that, her father leaves
them as he volunteers to convince the North Korean soldiers to stop attacking them.
Seol then cries as she follows her mother to hide under the culvert bridge. However, Seol's
mother has left no choice but to help her husband and leave Seol behind. Unfortunately, none of the
people from the village survive the invasion of North Korean soldiers, except for Seol.
Meanwhile, Ali impatiently waits for Suleyman to leave his house,
impetuously ringing the bicycle bell as he shouts Suleyman's name to go down quickly.
Because of that, Suleyman walks towards his balcony to check Ali, asking what's with the
racket at this hour because Ali's rushing him. But then, Ali only answers him to get down already.
Finally, Suleyman gets outside and puts some dog food at the kibble to feed the street dogs.
So, Ali gets frustrated, asking Suleyman if his morning routine will never end, such as grooming
and preparing his outfits before work. Yet, Suleyman responds with a non-rhetorical answer.
Afterward, Gazeteci calls Nuran across the alley to prepare themselves for the arrival
of Suleyman and his friends. Luckily, the boys notice them and even share a romantic look.
Gazeteci then meets Nuran in the middle of the alley afterward,
saying that her father says they will send troops to Korea. Assuming,
Gazeteci says that the Turkish Government might include Suleyman and his friends in the war,
so Nuran immediately stops her from thinking about it because they are only college-educated boys.
Later, Suleyman and the boys arrive at the 39th Military Infantry Division Command by riding their
bicycles. Afterward, Suleyman walks to Major Iskenderun's office to talk with him, only to
know that the purpose of them getting called is that they're going to send troops to South Korea.
Iskenderun then informs him that Ankara has organized a battalion while they have received an
order only to send reinforcements from the United Nations. Eventually, Iskenderun assumes that
Suleyman is one of the proficient soldiers needed, and it will be an issue for him once Suleyman
fails to show himself during the war. Leaving him no choice, Suleyman accepts his mission.
Suleyman and the boys take their dinner in a restaurant a while later.
While talking, Sulayman suddenly feels uncomfortable after hearing his friend Ilhan,
saying that he can't imagine him in warfare and taking the position as technical staff.
Yet, Pepe Muharrem answers, saying that Suleyman is from Maras, and it's already
in his blood to accomplish a mission at war. Suddenly, their conversation gets intense
until Suleyman favors them to send a message to Nuran through Iclal before he departs tonight.
Later at night, Suleyman meets with Nuran outside. Nuran then suddenly starts to get worried,
thinking that it is Ali who sends him astray and joins the troops. So, Suleyman assures her that
he will safely return home after completing his mission. Unfortunately, Nuran is only an orphan,
and her uncle is the only relative she has, who also never takes care of her,
but luckily, she meets Suleyman, who's willing to be with her until they get old.
The following day, Nimet reads the telegram that she gets from her uncle Huseyin. However,
it's a message from Suleyman about sending him to South Korea. Because of that, Nimet eventually
prays for Suleyman's safety to return home. The next day comes; Suleyman finally departs
as he sends letters to his friends, family, and the love of his life, Nuran. Fortunately, Suleyman
tells positive news about being taken care of by the Americans upon their trip to South Korea.
Later, Suleyman talks with Lieutenant Mesut, asking him where he can get diesel since he's
part of the motorized unit. Suleyman then says that he will siphon some from a jeep in the hold
so that Mesut can clean the cabin, and the ants will never devour him anymore. Unfortunately,
Mesut only receives laughs from the Americans after telling them what has happened to him last
night with the ants. Instead of killing the ants, Suleyman suggests feeding them. However, Mesut
suddenly overthinks Suleyman's perspectives after seeing him feeding the ants to push them away,
saying that a man like him is questionable to survive the war if he can't even kill the animals.
After a while, the troops finally arrive in South Korea as the citizens of its country welcome them.
Afterward, the commander's orders to pack up as they will directly go to Daegu to meet the South
Korean soldiers. Upon their arrival, Major Fuat informs the troops that despite taking the land by
the North Korean soldiers, the peacekeeping forces get driven back the enemy to its borders and freed
South Korea from the invasion. So, it's now their time for the final blow on the walls in Kunu-ri.
Fortunately, the Turkish armed forces will engage themselves in close combat with the North Korean
soldiers to help the South Koreans. Later, Ali and Mesut suddenly argue,
fighting about the American that sends them in Kanu-ri to exploit and their distrust towards
the Turkish troops for putting them behind the lines. So, Mesut clarifies, asking Ali if he
wants to be beneficial to his country as a true patriot or wants to hunt communists.
Because of that, Ali asks what side is Mesut on, giving Mesut a reason to think that Ali's
pertaining him as a spy. Fortunately, Ali and Mesut stop arguing after Suleyman interrupts,
saying he is sent to the border because he's good at what he's doing like them.
However, the North Korean soldiers suddenly attack their base while talking. So, Ali,
Mesut, and Suleyman immediately go to Colonel Celal's headquarters and find out that he's
talking to Fuat, reporting that they had an order to contact the 9th Corps in case of emergency.
Unfortunately, the communications are down, so he needs his permission to go with the help of
a good drive, which Suleyman volunteers while Ali, on the other hand, is going to be the interpreter.
Later at night, the three of them drive their way to the location when the North Korean
soldiers suddenly shoot their vehicle, making it explode. Afterward, Ali bravely attacks the
enemy by killing them using his pistol, then helps Mesut get up after jumping onto the car earlier.
Then, Colonel Celal orders the boys to take the forest. However, they suddenly hear a
noise while walking, allowing them to take out their guns if someone shoots them from nowhere.
Afterward, Suleyman volunteers to find where is the noise is coming
from when suddenly he sees the innocent Seol holding his dead mother inside the forest.
Seol then cries after Suleyman carries her out of the corpse that spreads through the ground.
Afterward, they take Seol to the 9th Corp Command Un Hung-ni with them as Celal and
Mesut also report to the commander about the situation on their base. While waiting outside,
Ali suggests naming her since they can't talk with her due to the language barrier.
Luckily, Suleyman comes up with the name Ayla since he found her in the moonlight.
Meanwhile, the American commander calls for a meeting, then tells them that the war is only
the beginning as the North Koreans do not stand alone now because of their alliance
with the Chinese Army. Technically, it's a multinational on both sides since the Turkish
troops are helping the South Koreans, too. Afterward, the American commander sends them
a vehicle on the way to the secret route while he commands his radio operator named Captain Cage,
to company them. Unfortunately, the American commander refuses to work with them as a team
and orders Lieutenant Lee to guide them instead. Afterward, they go to the route as they take Ayla
with them. However, Suleyman seems to be taking care of Ayla as she refuses him to leave inside
their jeep after stopping in the middle of the road. While waiting, the troops plan which is
the best route to the Kunu-ri. Afterward, Celal orders Suleyman to fix his jeep when suddenly
Ayla grabs his arms, giving him a sign not to let go of her. So, Suleyman puts Ayla on top of the
bonnet vehicle as she watches him fix the jeep. However, after Suleyman successfully sets it,
the North Korean soldier snipers the South Korean who attempts to carry Ayla.
Eventually, Suleyman and his troops engage in a shootout as he hides Ayla under the jeep.
Afterward, Suleyman tosses a bomb explosion using a bottle with gas to kill the incoming enemies.
Luckily, Mesut and his team hear it and immediately rescue them.
Unfortunately, Suleyman almost gets killed after the enemy stabs his
right lower shoulder when suddenly Lee shoots him and saves Suleyman.
The following day, Suleyman sees Ayla holding his hand as she waits for him to wake up. However,
Mesut informs him that the Koreans rightly want to take her, but Ayla refuses to go with them, so
Lee intervenes and volunteers to talk to the base. Luckily, Lee's suggestion gets accepted, in which
they will keep the children at the headquarters until a secure place gets built for them.
Meanwhile, Fuat informs Suleyman that the war's heating up, so they will constantly retreat,
advance, and maneuver. Unfortunately, Fuat disagrees with taking Ayla with them,
so he orders to leave her with Sadik. Afterward, Sadik reassures Suleyman that
they will treat Ayla as his child and even shows Suleyman the clothes he made for her.
However, Suleyman struggles to leave her behind as Ayla continues to follow him,
so Sadik gets her from Suleyman. But then, the stubborn Ayla hides on Suleyman's jeep after
Sadik shortly gets something on his vehicle. Technically, Suleyman rides the car without
knowing that Ayla is hiding in it. Later, Ayla runs toward Suleyman,
who's currently receiving recognition from the South Korean Captain. Leaving them no choice,
they take Ayla to their headquarters as Fuat gives Suleyman a dress and boots for her.
Suleyman then spends his days taking care of Ayla while also practicing with his troops.
However, Ayla suddenly struggles with sleeping after hearing the lightning outside, so she walks
towards Suleyman's bed to sleep beside him. The following day, Mesut talks with Suleyman
to suggest teaching Ayla in their language, which is Turkish. So, they spend their free
time educating Ayla and letting her watch their movies. Suddenly, Suleyman emotionally cries
after hearing Ayla calling him father. Afterward, the crying Ayla runs toward
Suleyman to tell that she hears something from the Turkish soldiers that he will die.
So, Suleyman assures her, saying that the soldiers are talking about Suleyman the Sultan. Afterward,
Suleyman, Mesut, and Ali take Ayla to Tokyo for the Children's Holiday and buy her some dresses.
Luckily, Ayla enjoys her short bonding with them. However, Suleyman suddenly gets torn
after putting Ayla to bed, thinking about leaving her once he returns home to Turkey.
The following day, Sadik informs Suleyman that some villagers find Ayla,
assuming they may have already found Ayla's family. Afterward, Sadik says they want to
take Ayla, so Suleyman should bring her to them or else they will be in trouble. Suleyman then warns
Sadik not to tell Ali about it as he walks toward Ayla to translate what's written on the paper.
Afterward, Suleyman instructs Ayla to listen to his radio while he's having a quick errand.
Later at night, Suleyman goes to the address that Sadik gave to him earlier.
However, upon entering the house, a North Korean bandit suddenly punches him while Ali,
on the other hand, starts panicking after realizing that Suleyman is missing.
So, Ayla helps them find Suleyman using Sadik's bicycle. Fortunately, Ali and Sadik arrive on time
and save Suleyman from the bandits. While running to escape, Suleyman asks what Ali told them,
so he answers, saying that the Army outside would take them if they didn't let him go.
Luckily, the three of them get back on their base before Fuat finds them that they are missing.
Meanwhile, Suleyman seeks help from Ayla to get a sign with Marilyn Monroe for Ali.
Technically, Suleyman made a deal with Ali as payment for rescuing him the
other night because Fuat orders Ali to take charge in arranging the weapons,
failing him to attend Marilyn's mini-concert to their base. Fortunately, Marilyn gets the
attention of Ayla and allows her to sign the picture with an additional kiss mark on it.
However, Ali suddenly gets killed by a North Korean sniper on the border.
One year later, Fuat announces that they are finally going home. However, Suleyman eventually
finalizes his decision to stay for another year as a volunteer. Suleyman then sends a letter to Nuran
to inform her about his situation, then bids goodbye to his friends afterward. Fortunately,
new men will arrive, but only Suleyman will be left to stay in South Korea and care for Ayla.
Later, Colonel Celal orders to talk with Suleyman at his office.
Upon arrival, Celal informs him that they have a landing ship leaving on Friday. Unfortunately,
he will send Suleyman with it because they will handle the command over to new Turkish officers.
Fuat then interrupts, saying that their Army has established the promised orphanage in Suwon,
in which Ayla will get taken by the lady and live with her. Leaving him no choice,
Suleyman takes Ayla to her new home, the Ankara School.
However, Suleyman eventually takes Ayla in secluded baggage to go with him on the landing
ship. But then, he fails to go home with her after Mesut finds out that Ayla's missing. Luckily,
no one dares to file a complaint with Suleyman because of his impressive performance in the
military. Then, before Suleyman finally leaves, he promises Ayla that he will be back for her.
Unfortunately, Suleyman finds out that Nuran engages herself with someone after getting some.
So, he immediately wires some money to get back to Maras and marry Nimet instead.
However, their marriage seems unhappy as Suleyman occupies himself to find Ayla after getting
back to his hometown. So, Nimet helps him find Ayla, saying that Ayla's already her child too
and will let herself walk the papers needed to find the young girl.
The movie ends 47 years later, wherein Suleyman returns to their home despite
the earthquake that happened the other night. Afterward, Suleyman gets the picture of him with
Ayla to reminisce his moment with her during his military days in South Korea. However,
Suleyman still keeps on finding Ayla through watching Korean television, to the extent that
he dreams of her visiting his house in Turkey. Because of that, Nimet informs him that a
newsperson from Korea calls and wants to help them find Ayla,
but only if Suleyman agrees to make their story into a documentary. Desperate to see Ayla again,
Suleyman eventually agrees with the deal and lets the newspersons find Ayla for him. Luckily,
after years of striving to find her, Suleyman finally reunites with Ayla in South Korea.