** Co-presented with Goethe Pop Up Seattle & SIFF! **

Oray is an insightful and affecting exploration of issues of community, identity, and religious faith. During a fight, young husband Oray repeats the word “talaq” three times to his wife Burcu, which, according to Islamic law, constitutes a divorce. Filled with regret, he consults an imam, who advises that the couple should at least take a three-month break.

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Oray and Burcu are a young married couple in love—but like any couple, they fight. During one of these fights, Oray repeats the word “talaq” three times, which, according to Islamic law, constitutes a divorce. Filled with regret, he consults an imam, who advises that the couple should at least take a three-month break.

A former burglar, Oray is trying to keep himself on the straight and narrow, and decides to leave their small German town for the duration of the time apart. In his new city, he gets a job at an open-air market, and rents a room from the cousin of the local imam, Bilal. He becomes involved with the mosque where he finds a sense of community and purpose, even befriending a petty thief who reminds him of his younger self. But Bilal’s more conservative interpretation of Islam, in combination with Oray’s own struggles, puts a future with Burcu in question.

Winner of the Best First Feature Award at the 69th Berlin International Film Festival, Oray is an insightful and affecting exploration of issues of community, identity, and religious faith.

Description courtesy of Justine Barda.