Feo Aladag, When We Leave

Beyond the Subtitles 317 Feo Aladag "When We Leave"

As writer-director and producer Feo Aladag (the "g" is silent) spent seven years researching, writing, casting and finally filming When We Leave, which considers the plight of German-born Umay (Sibel Kekilli, featured in Fatih Akin’s Head On) who flees Istanbul and her Turkish husband with their son to return home. There she finds not solace or comfort but anger from a Turkish family that is shamed by her actions and wants the boy returned to his father. When We Leave is Germany’s entry for the Best Foreign Language category of the 2011 Academy Awards.

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