HS-10. Ayla: The Daughter of War

Turkey, Feature Film, 2017, 124 min

On a cold night in Korea in 1950, Sgt. Suleyman stumbles upon an orphaned five-year-old girl who was the only survivor of a raid on her village. The terrified, barely alive child melts Suleyman's heart and he risks everything to carry her back to his army base and out of harm's way. With no common language, Suleyman names her Ayla, after the bright moon that shone on the horrific frozen battlefield the night he found her. The two become inseparable, and Ayla effortlessly brings joy and laughter to the entire Turkish military base in the midst of the Korean War. When the war comes to an end, the sergeant is forced to give up Ayla to an orphanage, but vows that they will be together again someday. Will they find each other so many years later? Based on a true story.