The Turkish movie "Ayla" has been selected to represent the country in the "Best Movie in Foreign Language" at the Oscars.
Set during the 1950's in the Korean War, Sgt. Süleyman Dilbirliği, a Turkish soldier, meets a young, orphaned Korean girl who he takes under his wing and names Ayla. The movie brings this beautiful story of love and hope to the silver screen.
The heroes of the movie are still alive and demonstrate how love can bring people together despite differences in language, religion, race and the destructive ravages of war. The sergeant and the girl even met years later, in 2015, in Istanbul.
"Ayla" tells the story of how a young, newly orphaned child, alone in a very remote place, was able to unite Turks, South Koreans and Americans. It also shows the rough conditions of war and the 65-year history of a small child and a soldier wearing the Turkish uniform with the star and crescent.
Directed by Can Ulkay and produced by Mustafa Uslu, "Ayla"s soundtrack was created by Fahir Atakoğlu. The cast includes İsmail Hacıoğlu and Eric Roberts. The movie features 32 national and international actors including: İsmail Hacıoğlu, Kim Seol, Çetin Tekindor, Lee Kyong-Jin, Ali Atay, Murat Yıldırım, Taner Birsel, Altan Erkekli, Meral Çetinkaya, Damla Sönmez, Büşra Develi, Erkan Petekkaya, Sinem Uslu, Eric Roberts, Cade Carredine, Kim Byoungsoon, Johnny Young, Mehmet Esen, Caner Kurtaran, Burç Kümbetlioğlu, Duygu Yetiş, Ali Barkın, Nilgün Kasapbaşoğlu, Mine Teber, Esra Dermancıoğlu, Toygan Avanoğlu, and İlber Gürtunca and will be a cinematic treat for the whole world.
