Lia, a retired teacher weary of life, has promised to look after her long-lost sister’s daughter, Tekla, who has just left her native Georgia for Turkey. When her young neighbor, Achi, hints at Tekla’s whereabouts, the steadfast Lia knows what to do. Despite being an unlikely pair of travelers, Lia and Achi set out for Istanbul. In the crowded, feline-infested streets of Istanbul, finding Tekla seems almost impossible. Yet, Lia can sense that Tekla is nearby. This film explores the layers of meaning in life and how they intersect.

Directed by Akin, known for the queer film And Then We Danced (2019) which resonated with audiences and sparked protests in Georgia, this film is another elegiac, kind-hearted, and wise creation. As the rich backdrop of Istanbul sets the stage for the possibility of ideological confrontations, the director cleverly activates cinema’s greatest potential: empathy. The Swedish author’s film, which was screened and well received at the Berlinale, is both a study of the director’s identity and a prime example of road cinema. It explores the boundaries of countries and cultures, gender and families, past and future, asking us if we are ready to revise them.