The film deals with the damage caused to Turkish family structures by the migration of workers to Germany in the 1980s. Cemil leaves his wife Zeliha and son Ömer behind in their village and goes to Germany to work. Years later, when he returns, he feels alienated from his village and his family. He persuades his wife, who is illiterate, to sign divorce papers with the promise of taking her to Germany. He takes his son Ömer with him and moves to Istanbul. He marries Marta, whom he met in Germany. Zeliha comes to Istanbul to find her son and confront Cemil. Her honor and sincerity attract the attention of the media. Now Zeliha's problem has become the problem of all Turkey.