Synopsis

Set in Harbiye, near Antakya, shortly before Turkey's May 27, 1960 military coup, the film follows young Cemal as political hostility divides his family. His father and uncle, supporters of rival parties, turn their shared courtyard into a battleground. Meanwhile, the town's waterfall, where residents traditionally recount their dreams, is threatened by construction work that could permanently alter the community's beliefs and daily life.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film's original Turkish title is "Sellale," meaning "Waterfall."

• Its story is set approximately six weeks before the May 27, 1960 military coup, using one family feud to reflect the wider political and economic tensions in Turkey at the time.

• The waterfall is more than a location. In the film's fictional community, people believe that dreams should be told only to running water, while their interpretation belongs to the prophet Yusuf.

• The central family conflict is given a visual form when the two brothers divide their shared courtyard with a wall. The barrier becomes a recurring comic image of political disagreement turning into permanent personal hostility.

• The story was inspired in part by writer Semir Aslanyurek's childhood memories. The film was his second feature and combines family drama, political satire, local folklore, and lyrical imagery.

• The Waterfall received a nationwide theatrical release in Turkey on November 16, 2001.