PÖFF: Rahma

PÖFF30 | Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival | 6-22 november 2026 | Cinema Artis

Meryem, an archaeologist working in Şanlıurfa Göbeklitepe, is on the verge of losing hope of becoming a mother after undergoing surgeries and unsuccessful IVF attempts. Despite her husband İbrahim’s objections, she turns to surrogacy in Georgia as a last resort. Just then, her path crosses that of Rahma, a 9-year-old Syrian orphan struggling alone against life’s hardships. When Meryem learns the secret Rahma has been hiding from everyone, a mystical bond begins to form between them; over time, the child’s presence transforms into a mysterious force that heals Meryem’s emotional wounds. As they prepare to build a new future together, Rahma’s dark past continues to haunt them. Alongside becoming a mother, Meryem is drawn into a relentless struggle where she will discover just how far she is willing to go to protect a child. With remarkable delicacy, director Faysal Soysal approaches this complex, deeply human story. His assured work with the actors and crew allows every character to retain their dignity. Rather than judging them, he stands beside them, drawing us into their hopes, contradictions and pain. The result is an intimate, emotionally powerful film that quietly takes hold and may leave more than a few searching for a handkerchief by the final scene.

Nikolaj Nikitin