ABOUT THE PROJECT

LOGLINE
Deceived by the promise of happiness and fulfillment in America, a Turkish immigrant housewife engages in a one-sided telephone conversation with a mysterious Turkish man, as she attempts to rediscover her identity.

SYNOPSIS
AYŞEGÜL ON TUESDAYS tells the story of Ayşegül, a disenfranchised Turkish housewife in her mid-30s living in her Turkish American husband’s suburban Midwestern home. Since moving to America, her life has been one disappointment after the other: her body rejects the processed cuisine, the Midwest doesn’t look like the America from her beloved Hollywood movies, she is unable to learn English and socialize—and the cherry on top—she is seemingly infertile.

Ayşegül spends her days drifting about her isolated home, reflecting on her life’s decisions. Maybe if she can ignite the spirit of her youth, she can remind herself who she can be? On Tuesdays, Ayşegül allows herself to transport her mind to the past by conversing via phone with an anonymous Turkish man.

AYŞEGÜL ON TUESDAYS shows the protagonist on a one-way telephone call with an off screen character, Ali, whose response we never hear. Ayşegül’s dialogue juxtaposes memories of her youth in Istanbul and current life in the Midwest. The intimacy of her conversation suggests an affair or a former lover of Ayşegül’s. However, the twist reveals that Ali is merely her Turkish grocer located in Sunnyside, Queens. She calls Ali every Tuesday to order her weekly Turkish groceries. Ali is her only friend in America and connection to her homeland.

As Ayşegül dives deeper into her thoughts, she seemingly shifts outside her body and into a magical realist version of herself. Her movements and actions spark the audience to question whether these conversations with Ali are real. Does Ali exist or is he rather a figment of her imagination?

PROJECT TYPE Narrative Short

DIRECTOR Amy Omar
SCREENWRITER Amy Omar
PRODUCER Petrus van Staden, Karine Benzaria, Amy Omar

WEBSITE amyomar.com