Yılmaz Uyar

In the 1930s in Konya, Turkey, the famous belly dancer Cemile dreams of going to the big city. Murat falls in love with her.

In this biographical drama, the Turkish writer Rifat Ilgaz (Tarik Akan) is forced to go into internal exile after World War Two, because the government suspects him of being a communist. Most of the movie follows him while he is on the lam, and during his reunion with his wife, who grows testy from the restrictions that hiding him impose on her. Eventually he turns himself in, and while in prison, suffers some torture. All the same, he endures with the flame of his spirit undiminished.

Leyla, a Turkish classical music soloist who is the envy of everyone, is shaken by the loss of her friend Cemal Bey, an udi from the instrumental ensemble. Leyla goes to Mr. Cemal's house, talks to his family, and begins to see the musician's feelings for her in a new light.