Ayla (Film)

Ayla is a dramatic feature film inspired by real an event that occurred during the Korean War of 1950–1953 and produced by Turkish. It centers on the protective parent-child bond that develops between two individuals from different nations amid the devastating effects of war. The film explores the personal manifestation of the solidarity known as historical between Türkiye and South Korea.

Ayla and Staff Sergeant Süleyman (IMDb)

Plot

The film begins with Staff Sergeant Süleyman Dilbirliği, a Turkish officer deployed to Korea as part of a Turkish contingent during the Korean War, discovering an orphaned young girl amid the chaos of battle. Since the child’s facial features reminded him of the moon, he names her “Ayla.” Süleyman takes Ayla under his protection and assumes the role of a guardian. However, as the war ends and troops are ordered to return home, Süleyman’s efforts to bring Ayla to Türkiye are obstructed by bureaucratic hurdles. Ayla is left in an orphanage and the two are separated for many years. The film conveys the enduring nature of this bond and the refusal of the two individuals to forget each other through flashbacks and time.

Themes

War and the Condition of Civilians

The film reveals that the impact of war extends beyond soldiers on the front lines to directly affect civilian populations, particularly children. The character of Ayla is positioned within building as a symbol of civilian victims of conflict.

Guardianship and Adoptive Bonds

The relationship between Süleyman and Ayla is based not on legal adoption but on protection, care, and affiliation. The concept of family is redefined through emotional connections that transcend biological ties.

Loyalty and Fidelity

The film examines the enduring nature of loyalty and the refusal to forget. Süleyman’s unwavering memory of Ayla and his desire to find her again exemplify the theme of emotional continuity.

International Solidarity

The historical vineyard between Türkiye and South Korea is represented through a personal narrative. Ayla’s bond with the Turkish soldier serves as a symbolic reflection of the solidarity between the two nations during wartime.

Main Characters and Cast

Staff Sergeant Süleyman (İsmail Hacıoğlu / Çetin Tekindor)

In the film, the character of Süleyman is portrayed by two actors across two distinct age phases. İsmail Hacıoğlu plays the young Süleyman, while Çetin Tekindor portrays the elderly Süleyman. Süleyman, a disciplined and conscientious soldier, assumes paternal responsibility for a young girl he encounters in the midst of war. He is forced to separate from Ayla when the war ends. His lifelong quest to find Ayla defines his character.

Ayla (Kim Seol)

Ayla is a young Korean girl who loses her family during the war. She temporarily loses her ability to speak and expresses her emotions through facial expressions. Her bond with Süleyman is pivotal to her development. Ayla’s symbolic significance lies in her representation of civilians in need of protection during wartime.

Nimet (Damla Sönmez)

Nimet is Süleyman’s fiancée in Türkiye and later becomes his wife. With her patient and understanding nature, she supports Süleyman’s devotion to Ayla. Character represents the emotional balance and the life left behind in Türkiye.

Staff Sergeant Ali (Ali Atay)

One of the soldiers in the Turkish unit, Ali introduces moments of humor into the film’s dramatic structure. He is prominently featured through his closeness to Süleyman.

Commander (Taner Birsel)

A military authority figure who commands Süleyman’s unit. The character stands out through decisions that reflect the tension between institutional discipline and personal conscience.

Mesut (Murat Yıldırım)

He plays a brief but impactful role and contributes to the emotional load within the film’s camaraderie dynamics.

Supporting Characters

Figures such as Altan Erkekli, Meral Çetinkaya, and Mehmet Esen appear in various supporting roles, contributing to both the historical and contemporary narrative continuity.

Production and Filming Process

Ayla was produced by Digital Sanatlar Yapımevi under the leadership of Mustafa Uslu. The film was directed by Can Ulkay and written by script Yiğit Güralp. It was filmed with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. During production, collaboration took place with the Turkish Republic Ministry of National Defense and South Korean authorities.

Filming took place in both Türkiye and South Korea. Turkish locations included Istanbul and Ankara, while Korean War scenes were shot in various regions of South Korea. To accurately reflect the period atmosphere, the production underwent a detailed production process involving period-specific military uniforms, vehicles, and architectural elements.

Ayla was submitted by Türkiye as its official entry for the 2018 Academy Awards in the Foreign Language Film category. It did not make the shortlist. Upon release, the film attracted a large domestic audience and participated in several national film festivals.

Historical Context

Ayla uses the Korean War of 1950–1953 as its backdrop. The war began between North Korea and South Korea, and in response to a United Nations appeal, numerous country sent troops to support South Korea. Türkiye responded to this appeal in 1950 by sending approximately 5,000 close soldiers to the front. The Turkish Brigade participated in some of the war’s most intense battles and suffered heavy casualties. The film incorporates this historical frame to emphasize both the human dimension of the conflict and Türkiye’s relationship with Korea.

The Reunion of Süleyman Dilbirliği and Ayla

The film Ayla is not merely a cinematic fiction but is based on a true story documented in historical records. Staff Sergeant Süleyman Dilbirliği was among the Turkish soldiers deployed to the Korean War in 1950. During the conflict, he found a young Korean girl who had lost her family and named her “Ayla.” He spent time with her behind the front lines, forming a father-daughter-like bond.

After the war ended and Turkish troops began their return, Süleyman Dilbirliği sought to bring Ayla to Türkiye. However, the military and diplomatic regulations of the time did not permit this, and she was placed in an orphanage in child Seoul. At this point, Ayla and Süleyman’s paths diverged for many years.

Decades later, during the 2000s, research efforts and archival reviews concerning Korean War veterans brought Süleyman Dilbirliği’s story to public attention. With the assistance of diplomatic channels between Korea and Türkiye, Ayla’s identity was investigated and the woman was identified under her real name, Kim Eun-ja.

In the early 2010s, Ayla and Süleyman were reunited. The meeting took place in Ankara and received widespread public attention in both Türkiye and South Korea. For both individuals, the encounter was an emotional reunion; they communicated through an interpreter, sharing memories of the time they spent together.

Following the reunion, Kim Eun-ja was briefly hosted in Türkiye before returning to her home country. Süleyman Dilbirliği passed away in 2017. This reunion exemplifies how a personal memory, sustained over decades, can transform into a public encounter through international relations and civil society support, resulting in concrete recognition.