Heart-warming movie, who manages the balance between comedy and drama very well. It's a tribute to the first immigrants from Turkey to Germany and the difficulties they faced to adapt and built a life in a foreign environment and culture and how those facts forged the character of the third generation, their grandchildren.
The story is too familiar, i guess, to all the people of the southern countries that left them in the 60'ties to seek employment in the industries of the rich North: Germany, Belgium or even farther to the United States and Australia. At that time, the immigrants were needed, invited and welcome. One is tempted to compare to the current situation in Europe,who cannot support or welcome the todays immigrants anymore.
This film could have been easily a "heavy" one, but it avoids that trap. There is no deep analysis of the difficulties and the problems they dealt with there. Instead it has a light-hand, tender touch, dealing with both joy and sorrow, mourning and adaptation. It is as the young boy says at the end of the movie: "Life is the ups and downs". Music and bright color photography contribute in emphasizing that.
Very good direction, screenplay and excellent acting from all concerned. The little boy who is the last link in the family chain, the one for whom the story is told and who will in his turn re-tell it to his own descendants, is played by a very charismatic child actor, that will steal your heart.
Another great film from the Turkish film industry.
