Original subtitles

[clock ticking]

THE MUSEUM OF INNOCENCE

[old Kemal] It was a quiet midnight when I woke up in my attic.

My museum, which sometimes seemed like it would never be completed,

looked eerie in the moonlight.

[ticking continues]

My entire collection, which I had been working on for 30 years,

stood draped in shadow.

There was the dining table

at which I sat and ate with her and her family for eight years,

and the television we used to watch together.

Each one of them held their own stories that I could feel flickering inside of me.

I felt it like a shaman who can gaze into the soul of these items.

But those who would visit my museum, they wouldn't know any of these stories.

The solution, I believe, Mr. Orhan,

is that the stories of my beloved items should be told in a book.

You mean, you want me to put together a sort of museum catalogue, Mr. Kemal?

Exactly.

I am hoping you'll make it more of a novel.

[soft chuckle]

That expresses the real admiration,

and love we shared, all woven into the paper and ink itself.

Go ahead sir, please, I'm listening.

I kept her hair ties…

Her hair, her things,

everything that I could.

I took solace all these years in her things.

And I tell you this to show you how sincerely I loved this woman.

Sir, could I be completely honest about what happened?

Of course.

[soft music playing]

[quiet chuckle]

Those times were the best years of my life,

I'm realizing.

[gentle music playing]

A MOMENT 30 YEARS AGO

MONDAY, MAY 26TH, QUARTER TO THREE

If I had known at the time, I would have never let that happiness slip away.

Then everything would have been different.

She was 18 years old,

a distant and poor relative of mine

I had forgotten existed until a month earlier.

I, however, was 30,

and about to get engaged and married to Sibel,

who was seen as a perfect match for me.

[woman laughing]

[both laughing]

Look here, Berrin, did you see? Isn't it just so elegant?

Mm!

Your invitation looks wonderful.

Sibel has good taste.

You have the Hilton booked?

Of course.

Goodness, what an admirable man your father is.

All this for his only daughter.

her engagement party will be held at the Hilton.

So why was the engagement delayed, then?

Oh! What, are you busy?

[all laughing]

Oh, darling.

Which table's this bottle for?

For Mr. Kemal's.

Who's Mr. Kemal?

Here.

At the head of the table is the father, Mümtaz Basmacı, a textile businessman.

Next to him is the mother, Mrs. Vecihe.

Then there's the eldest son, Mr. Osman, with his wife, Mrs. Berrin.

And at the other end is Kemal Basmacı,

sitting with his future fiancée, Miss Sibel.

All important customers.

They're here a lot, so we give them our best service. If you would.

[woman laughing]

[Mümtaz] Did you delay because of issues with the venue?

Not at all! It's just that my dearest friend is away at school.

I thought we'd wait for her semester break.

I didn't want to have the engagement without my friend, that's why we delayed.

Mm.

The engagement dress for the day?

Silky İsmet said it would be ready in just two weeks.

Here, let me show you, actually.

-Oh, the sketch? You brought it along? -Uh-huh.

[man in background] May our worst day be like this.

[Vecihe] I'm so curious, let me have a look.

See, this is our idea for how we could try to embroider on your pearls.

[Vecihe] Ah! It's breathtaking, my dear!

But my thought was that you…

I thought you would arrange the pearls up and down the bodice.

Yes, but it just didn't seem like a fit in the end.

[woman] Waiter, could you come here?

-It's gorgeous. -[chuckles]

All right, come on, then. Let's drink up, eh? To young love. Yes?

Come on, glasses up.

[all] Cheers.

[laughs]

Have a good night, sir.

-Good night. -Have a good night.

Kemal, slow down!

[Kemal] Taxi!

[Sibel] Kemal.

[giggling] I think I'm a little bit drunk.

Well, I guess we both are.

-Yeah? -Mm-hmm.

Oh, oh!

Oh, look, isn't it gorgeous?

-Oh, the car is right there. -Ah, yes! Come on, honey.

[traffic noises]

[soft, suspenseful music playing]

[old Kemal] In actuality,

I was not the affectionate kind of suitor who constantly bought women gifts.

Even so, the next day I went back there to buy the purse Sibel liked.

[ringing]

[bird chirping]

[evocative music swells]

[bird chirping]

Hello. Can I help you with something?

I'd like to buy the purse in the window.

Uh, the cream Jenny Colon, do you mean?

This front one.

I'll get it.

[bird chirps]

[bird twittering]

[bird chirping]

[bird chirps]

Füsun?

-[Füsun chuckles] -[Kemal chuckles]

It's been a while.

You've grown so much, look at you!

You must not remember me.

Oh no, of course I do!

Yes, Mr. Kemal, but I assumed

it's inappropriate to bring those old times back up.

[soft chuckle]

So? What are you up to?

Studying to get into the university.

And I work here every day, so I get to meet lots of people.

Good to hear.

[bird twitters]

So, uh, what was the price on the purse?

[Füsun exhales]

[Füsun] Fifteen hundred lira.

I'm sure I could talk to my boss for you,

she'll come right back from her lunch break in an hour or so.

-Mrs. Şenay could discount the bag. -No big deal.

[bird chirping]

[chirping continues]

[paper rustling]

Give my regards to Aunt Nesibe and your father.

[footsteps receding]

[bell rings]

[door closes]

[man on TV] The boycott protests…

I saw Füsun today when I bought a purse for Sibel.

-Nesibe's daughter Füsun, you mean? -Mm-hmm.

So she's still working at Şenay's store?

Ugh, a sorry situation.

-[heavy sigh] -[Kemal chuckles softly]

Füsun was so dear to me when she a young girl.

Nesibe used to bring her over here when she'd sew.

I'd give her your toys, and she would play so quietly, content in the corner.

I walk past the store

and don't even want to stop in to give my best because I'm so ashamed.

They're family, aren't they?

Goodness, well, your grandpa was married to a woman who was from Bosnia,

-before he married your grandmother. -Yes, she passed away in the war.

Yeah. So then she had a daughter already of her own,

because she'd had another marriage.

That daughter was Nesibe's mother, so grandmother to Füsun, yes.

[soft chuckle]

-That's complicated. -[laughs]

Yes, so there isn't blood relation between us. We're just connected.

[man on TV] …all of the necessary administrative preparations

at their disposal have been completed.

Didn't Aunt Nesibe have some kind of business working as a seamstress?

Yes, Nesibe was a great seamstress. But, well, they were destitute, you know?

Hey, now.

It's true, but I think all of Turkey was poor back then, honestly.

And I used to recommend Nesibe to everyone.

I'd tell all my friends and family to use her.

Oh my goodness, that beauty pageant was a disaster though.

Is that why you stopped having them over?

Of course! Why on earth would you put a girl who's still in high school

into a contest just about her looks?

And worse, be dishonest about her birthday to pass the poor thing off as being older.

God, her poor father was totally clueless.

It's such a shameful thing, of course, but Nesibe was thrilled.

Thank God she didn't actually win that beauty pageant.

Just think how everyone would've laughed.

-They would've kicked her out of school. -Yes, in a heartbeat!

Absolutely they would.

And in so many beauty pageants…

Well, we know the kind of women who'd get on stage, that's all I'll say.

The whole country knows that kind.

[TV continues in background]

Tread lightly, son.

You're going to get engaged very soon,

and to a woman who's kind as well as beautiful.

Where's this purse? I want to see what you got her.

-Mümtaz. -[Mümtaz] Hm?

Come take a look, Kemal just bought a purse for Sibel.

-Mm? Bought her a purse? -Yes.

[Kemal] Hey, Dad.

[jingle playing on TV]

Wow, look, Zaim's "Meltem Soda" commercial.

♪ Meltem, Meltem, Meltem, Meltem ♪

[in Turkish] ♪ You deserve Everything you've wanted ♪

♪ Meltem, Meltem, Meltem ♪

You deserve whatever you want.

YOU DESERVE EVERYTHING YOU'VE WANTED

[emotional music playing]

[typewriters clacking]

[woman] Mr. Nuri, could you get me a cup of coffee too…

[old Kemal] I had studied business in America

and finished my military service.

My father had made me the general manager of one of his steadily-growing companies.

[phone ringing]

[laughing]

Yes, speaking! What's the news?

Then, in the evenings, after everyone else had left,

Sibel would come to the company I was managing.

-I've been waiting for you. -[laughs]

I've been waiting for you.

-Come on in, then. -What'd you do today?

What do you think? I waited for you.

And we would make love on the leather couch.

Back in those days,

the daughters of Westernized families who had been to Europe

had started sleeping with their lovers before marriage.

And among the youth, they would call it "going all the way."

Since she and I had gone all the way, it was only right to get married.

-I wanted that anyway. -Let me help you.

[old Kemal] But even if I didn't want it,

since she'd already given me her virginity,

there was no way I could leave Sibel.

[bell rings]

[woman laughing]

[indistinct chatter]

[woman] Okay, see you later!

[Sibel laughing]

-[whistle blowing] -[Sibel] A little.

[Kemal] A little.

[indistinct chatter and laughter]

-Welcome, sir. Right this way. -[Sibel chuckles]

[Kemal and Sibel laughing]

I know visiting the office in the evenings isn't that comfortable for you.

I mean, it's more just… It's like I'm a secretary coming to work.

[both laugh]

How about we both go and meet at my mom's old condo instead?

It's pretty much just storage.

And plus, it has that beautiful view of the garden.

Do you really think picking our own place once we're married

-will take such a long time? -Hey, that's not what I'm saying.

Look, Kemal, I don't like meeting at some secret hidden location.

I'm your fiancée, not your mistress.

You're right.

Where'd the idea to meet there come from anyway?

[soft chuckling]

Just forget it.

[Sibel sighs]

Oh, what's this?

Surprise. Open it.

-Seriously? -Mm-hmm.

Remember? When we walked past, you pulled me over to see it.

[chuckles]

Yes, darling, you pay attention.

Imagine how great it'll look on you at the engagement.

My accessories for the engagement have already been chosen.

Did I do something wrong?

Kemal, honey, this so kind of you. Really, thank you so much.

But I can't be seen carrying this bag no matter what.

Look, the purse isn't real, okay?

Not real?

It's not an original Jenny Colon. It's just a replica.

How can you tell that?

The entire thing just screams replica.

Look at the stitches, I mean…

Come on, compare it against the original Jenny Colon I got in Paris.

Jenny Colon didn't become the industry's most expensive designer

by using such cheap thread like this, they'd do better.

What did they even charge you?

Fifteen hundred lira.

[sighs]

If you want, I'll exchange it.

Just get your money back, hon, okay?

You were deceived, they ripped you off.

Kemal, sweetie, you're such a smart man, and you're cultured.

Apparently you can't understand

how women could still pull the wool over your eyes.

[soft, emotional music playing]

[ringing]

You didn't like it?

No, not my taste. And not my size, either.

Have a good day.

[bell rings, door opens]

[door closes]

[bird twitters]

So you went out? I spotted you last night.

On the sidewalk.

And Miss Sibel was there.

You probably went to dinner?

Yes, we made plans for dinner.

You both look great together, y'know.

[soft chuckle]

Well, I'm here to, um… To ask about something.

[bird chirping]

I brought the bag back, actually.

-[paper rustles] -Oh, would you like a replacement?

Um, well, I can… Oh, how about this? Plus it's from Paris, it's really nice.

-Along with these gloves, they're glam-- -Not an exchange.

I'd appreciate a full return.

Return?

Because this handbag isn't authentic, it's a replica.

But how? Our shop doesn't sell imitation products.

Look, I'm-I'm ignorant about these things.

[paper rustles]

You probably want your money back now?

Yes, please.

[soft chuckle]

Uh… Look, this has nothing to do with you or the store, by the way.

Plus our fashion's basically just a xerox of what's happening in Europe, so…

It's nothing to me if a bag's a replica or bona fide.

I'll make sure it gets returned.

[bird chirps]

[soft sob]

Füsun, I…

-I feel terrible, I'm sorry, let me just-- -[stifled sob]

[sniffles]

Füsun?

[sniffling]

[crying] It's… I can't open the money drawer to pay up.

[shaky inhale]

The owner, um…

always takes the register key along on her lunch break,

so now the till is locked, sorry.

I feel horrible she does that.

Me coming to work here was about trying to find some friends,

so I'm not interested in her money.

[sniffles]

Hey, a job to earn some money isn't shameful or bad, all right?

It's just fine.

Yes, I mean, of course.

My father is retired from teaching, plus I turned 18 a couple weeks ago,

so I'm grown up. I don't want to always be such a burden to them.

Hey.

-[sniffling] -[soft music playing]

[bird chirping]

I need you to promise you won't mention I cried in front of you.

Of course, we're friends, Füsun.

[laughs softly]

[sniffles]

Then how's this for a plan?

I'll leave the purse here for now, and come by later for the money, how's that?

Okay.

Ah, but make someone else come get it.

She'll try to claim it's not a replica, she'll insist. It'll upset you.

Well, then…

let's exchange it instead.

Let's do the hat from before, okay?

No, I don't feel comfortable doing that anymore.

It's not a big deal, seriously.

Except it matters a lot to me.

[bird chirping]

I don't want that woman to ever upset you.

[laughs]

But I came up with something that works better.

If I tell her Miss Sibel already owns that bag, she'll have to refund it.

Is that okay?

That's fine.

-I'll tell her the same exact story. -No, don't do that.

Just, she can't hear anything about this from you, only from me.

Mrs. Şenay loves an excuse to pry. Hey, I can give Aunt Vecihe the money--

Don't! Do not get my mom involved in this, the woman's pretty nosy already.

[laughing]

Well, then where can I put it?

[soft chuckle]

At Teşvikiye Street,

go down to that one big complex, Merhamet Apartments.

See, I'm over there a lot, usually around 2:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon, go there.

I'll bring it by there. What's the door number?

Four.

[anticipatory music playing]

All right, then.

[bell rings]

[heartbeat thumping]

[indistinct chatter and laughter]

[whistle blowing]

[heartbeat continues]

[horn honking]

[heartbeat continues]

[sensual exhale]

[music crescendos]

[music stops]

[city traffic sounds]

YOU DESERVE EVERYTHING YOU'VE WANTED

[soft scoff]

Why on earth has my son gone out and bought a pitcher for me suddenly? Huh?

I just wanted to buy it for you, 'kay?

Oh, all right, all right.

You did well, it's beautiful.

Mrs. Fatma, excuse me?

-[Fatma] Yes, Mrs. Vecihe? -Here, put this away.

In any case, honey, at this time of day,

shouldn't you be at the office?

The Merhamet Apartment, can I have the key, please?

[Vecihe] Ah.

Ma, it gets really busy at the office,

I was just hoping I'd focus better there.

That place, really? It must be so dusty there, Kemal.

[whispers] Oh!

Kemal, you remember our Kütahya vase with the red flowers, right, my dear?

-[Kemal] Yes, Mom. -Ah.

Since you'll be stopping by, please just peek around for your mother.

I can't find it here.

And honey, make sure you don't work too much.

Remember your father.

He worked hard all his life to make sure you're happy here.

So just get out, go out, okay? Have fun with Sibel, alright, honey?

You need to enjoy the spring!

Tread lightly, son.

[intriguing music playing]

PHARMACY

ANT FLORIST

[car horn honking]

[old Kemal] The next day, between 2:00 and 4:00,

I waited for Füsun in the apartment at the Merhamet building.

[curtains opening]

[soft chuckle]

[distant children laughing and shouting]

[child] Come on, pass the ball!

Kick the ball already, hurry!

Come on!

Hey, man! Come on, kick the ball! Come on! Kick it!

-Goal! -[child 2] We did it, yes!

[old Kemal] But Füsun didn't come.

Mr. Kemal, I'm leaving. Are you going to be staying longer?

How about it, sir?

No, I'm coming too.

[curious music playing]

[old Kemal] The next day I went there again, and I waited, again.

Füsun still didn't come.

I was ashamed of myself for spending two days in an empty apartment

waiting for her.

To move past it, I went to a business lunch the next day.

[man] …I do.

Still, I've been trying to convince your secretary to set up a lunch for days.

So I put my foot down. "Miss," I said, "Mr. Kemal comes, or I'm staying."

We're so busy, like you said, Mr. Abdülkerim.

I know you've worked as our dealer for some time now, right?

Yes, you and my father must be close.

I've known and worked with your father since the little shop in Sirkeci.

How long's it been?

Eh, you can work out the math on that.

I only recall a little about it, honestly.

Ah. Ah, well,

that shop is where everything started for your father, you know.

It started there, and he grew the business step by step,

into the success it is today.

Oh, by the way, please be sure to give my regards to your mother, won't you?

And you can tell her that the store's sales down in Kayseri are skyrocketing.

[laughing]

[thunder rumbles]

Ah, it's such a shame, the weather!

What? It's all right. Why don't we just move inside?

What is it? Is something wrong?

I'm so sorry, I forgot.

But I better head out. I'm missing a scheduled call now.

You don't mind, do you?

-No, of course not. -I need to head back to the office quick.

[thunder rumbling]

[car horns honking]

[doorbell rings]

Uh…

[knocking on door]

Oh!

[Füsun laughs softly]

I'd assumed you'd just forgotten.

[soft chuckle]

Come on in.

I'd hate to bother you.

-I think I'll just go. -Ugh, it's raining really hard.

I'm making some tea. It's nice and dry in here.

[thunder rumbling in distance]

Come in.

[gentle music playing]

[door closing]

Tea's almost ready now, okay?

Guess Aunt Vecihe's been busy collecting?

Uh…

Yeah, it's all hers.

From the antique stores around here, or Europe too.

-She always shops wherever she goes. -Hm.

But after a while, she needs room for new stuff, so it ends up here, forgotten.

[laughing quietly]

[laughs quietly]

See this? Look, she kept it from ages ago, it's my old tricycle.

Aunt Vecihe gave me your trike to play with, I kept it for a while.

-This bike? -Yeah!

But we brought it back on a visit during Eid al-Adha,

when I got too big for it.

The driver Çetin was there, and you, and then me.

We drove Uncle Mümtaz's new car around, but--

Crazy Süreyya was drinking liquor, I remember that now.

-Oh yeah! -[chuckling]

A sweet liqueur, right?

[exhales]

You were just a kid back then.

Now you've grown into a beautiful young woman.

[gentle music playing]

Thanks for that.

Better get going now.

Oh, but the tea's ready.

And it's still raining hard.

Just wait here, I'll grab the tea.

For you.

[exhales]

You didn't tell anybody about how I broke down before?

[laughs quietly]

I didn't.

But I'm really curious about why you cried.

Why's that?

I was thinking of you.

You're so gorgeous.

[sniffs]

Was Mrs. Şenay angry?

Did she even admit the purse was a fake?

She was angry, yeah.

I explained a bit, and she decided

that it's just easier to give you back your money.

So I guess in the end she knew the purse really was fake.

[sniffs]

I'd better be off, then.

[soft piano music playing]

[music intensifies]

I'm a big fan of kissing, y'know.

I'm not supposed to kiss you, I'm sorry.

I left the envelope here.

Where's my umbrella?

What's that?

I put the umbrella here.

-Are you sure? -Of course I remember, I put it here.

It must be here then, let me check.

You're prepping for the university entrance exam?

-What major are you pursuing? -I'm not sure yet.

Well, if you have any trouble, especially studying math,

you can come here in the afternoons. I'll help you.

Well, do you study math with any other girls?

There are no other girls.

She comes to the shop, Miss Sibel does, quite a lot.

She seems very nice.

When are you two getting married?

We'll be engaged in six weeks or so.

What about this one?

[soft scoff]

Bring this one to the shop? No.

The rain has stopped anyway.

I need to get back there now.

Please come back, all right?

We'll just drink tea, okay?

Hm?

But I don't plan on coming back, Mr. Kemal.

And I'm sure you must know I won't.

But I'll keep what happened with us private, I promise.

[soft chuckle]

And the umbrella, then?

[laughing quietly]

It's Mrs. Şenay's, but keep it, all right?

[door opening]

[kisses]

[disco music playing]

[cheering and applause]

Thank you guys, thank you!

[man 1] Miss Inge! Miss Inge! Look a little bit over here!

[photographers clamoring]

[clamoring continues]

-[photographers clamoring] -[cameras click]

YOU DESERVE EVERYTHING…

[man] Mr. Zaim, you're the hero of the night!

You shouldn't make the press here have to beg for a photo.

Come on sir, beg? I'm a nice guy, I'll come.

[man 2] Bravo, Zaim!

Turkey wants to see you!

[applause and cheering]

[man 3] Mr. Zaim, can we get you in a picture?

[woman] Come on, Zaim, get up there and show yourself!

[photographers clamoring]

[photographers instructing]

You deserve everything that you've wanted!

[renewed cheering]

[whistling]

-[chuckles] -Kemal's not here?

I don't get it, man.

We're here at a party thrown by his friend and Kemal Basmacı's missing.

[Sibel] Hang on, your friend "You-Deserve-It-All-Zaim"

is celebrating the launch of Meltem sodas, and you don't go?

That's really surprising, Kemal.

I told you I'm sick, my love.

The German model who's been in the papers and the commercial

is gonna be there tonight.

Kemal?

[Kemal] Yes, honey?

You want me to come over, my love?

I'm fine.

[Sibel] Seriously, I'm offering.

Don't worry, it's not too late or anything.

Honey, Mrs. Fatma and Mom are helping me out. I just need to rest.

All right. But don't you think the slogan "You deserve it all"

in a poverty-stricken country

is just a bit presumptuous of your friend?

[Kemal] Well, you always thought Zaim was a show-off anyway.

And presumptuous, let's add that on now.

Anyway.

We have Yeşim's thing tomorrow at the Pera Palace,

-her engagement party, okay? -Yeah, I remember, hon.

All right, get well soon.

-Good night. -Good night, my love.

[pensive music playing]

[old Kemal] Füsun would never come back to the Merhamet building.

But I still went over there the next day.

[children playing and laughing]

I went there so I could be alone.

So I could forget what I did yesterday.

[cup clinking]

[water running]

[knocking on door]

I just came for my umbrella, so…

'Course, yeah.

[door closes]

It's right over here.

How'd it end up there?

Uh, not by accident.

I hid it on purpose to keep you here longer.

[laughs softly]

[children playing outside]

-[laughs] -You're so gorgeous.

So different, too.

[umbrella falls]

[emotional music playing]

[distant seabirds calling]

[music swells]

Don't.

Wait a sec.

[child outside] Goal!

[breathing heavily]

[soft gasp]

[soft pant]

[shaky exhale]

Does it hurt, my love?

[soft gasp]

[breathing shakily]

[old Kemal] I didn't know what her intentions were

when she came to the apartment that day.

All I knew was that she made love to me, going all the way.

Without any expectations.

My beauty gave herself to me just because she wanted to.

[soft gasp]

[children playing outside]

-[cheering and applause] -Bravo!

[laughing]

[man] And now, I'll cut your wedding ribbon.

-Congratulations to you both. -[cheering continues]

[man 2] Congratulations!

[man 3] Congratulations.

Kemal, can we make our engagement party like this?

'Course we can, babe.

[indistinct chatter in background]

[upbeat music playing]

[photographer] Okay, smile!

[party chatter]

-Hurry! This way, hurry, hurry, hurry! -I'll be right back, hon.

-Yeah, okay. -Hurry!

Yeah, yeah, we've made a lot of good investments.

[man] Yeah, big ships and big factories all over the place.

From Russia to Bosphorus, because of the big ships we can--

[man 2] Hey, are you serious?

[soft piano music playing]

[soft chuckle]

Kemal, there's drama.

[upbeat music comes back]

There is?

Mehmet is apparently in love with the German model, he won't stop flirting.

-And? -And now Zaim is annoyed and jealous.

Look, man, I'm trying to be honest with you.

So?

You seem to be little off, hon.

No, I'm all right.

Yeah? Are you sure? So you're not upset or anything?

No, not at all. Don't worry, my love, nothing's wrong.

[traffic noises]

Go home, Mr. Çetin, no need to wait.

[Çetin] Good night, sir.

[horn honking]

[door opening]

[door closing]

[soft grunt]

[gentle piano music playing]

[inhales deeply]

[moaning]

[Füsun gasping softly]

[moaning softly]

[panting and moaning]

[moaning]

[moans]

[moans]

[Kemal exhaling]

[children playing outside]

Can I ask? I've been curious.

What is it?

Don't mind me, sorry.

Just ask, go on.

All right, earlier, when…

When you hugged me and closed your eyes tight?

-What about it? -[Kemal chuckles]

Did you see anything? Like a movie in your head?

[exhales]

[pensive music playing]

I saw an entire sea of blooming sunflowers.

[old Kemal] This was the first cigarette of the 4,213 cigarette butts

that Füsun would smoke and I would collect and keep.

Now I leave them here, in my museum,

in memory of that day, so long ago now.

The day that would change my life forever.

[music continues]

[music ends]

[soft piano music playing]

[music ends]