THE DAY I HARVESTED HAZELNUTS IN ANTALYA
For the first time in my life, I harvested hazelnuts. That day, under the scorching sun,
surrounded by wild weeds and breath-stealing heat, working in the orchard was both
exhausting and eye-opening. I saw up close for the first time how hazelnuts grow on their
branches and how they are gathered.
The invitation came from Handan, Fuat’s colleague. Two years ago, she had bought a plot of
land, built a nostalgic two-story house on it, and was well-versed in farming. The plot was in
a quiet, peaceful corner of Antalya, full of unspoken stories. She and her husband Murat
invited us to help with the harvest. Her knowledge and command of farm work were
impressive, but what moved me most was the story of a woman who had endured much,
been hurt, and left alone.
She appeared strong in the orchard, yet when we were alone, she whispered her loneliness
and disappointment:
“After life’s heaviest blow, I gave my years to my family—I worked and worked… And look
where it got me…”
Though she and her husband spoke respectfully side by side, in private she could not hide
her wounds. On the way back that night, I asked Murat:
“Don’t you ever worry about her being out here alone? What if something happens?”
His answer was distant and formal:
“She has become the man of our house.”
The words stung. I thought about how women are often pushed into this kind of solitude by
life’s hardships.
Her house was in an isolated place. At night, the cries of jackals echoed from afar. I warned
her earnestly:
“Please make sure every window is closed. I know jackals—if one gets in, the others will
follow.”
She smiled, but my heart still ached for her loneliness. She drove heavy vehicles to haul
what she needed; she looked strong on the outside, but inside there was a deep silence.
That day, we also visited Mrs. Sevil, whom I had been invited to see for years but had never
managed to visit. She was someone I knew through Handan’s circle. Her home was on the
bank of a wide stream, with a beautiful gazebo and a magnificent view. Sitting in the gazebo
and watching the yachts pass by brought pure peace.
On her land, Mrs. Sevil had built three apartment buildings—modern and elegant. When we
first met ten years ago, she had just started in real estate. Later, her husband suffered a
terrible accident, regressing physically and mentally to a childlike state. She cared for him
alone, almost like a baby, and nursed him back to health. Now he spoke normally and could
express himself in public. They had a daughter and a son. She had introduced her son to
work early, and now he was a manager at a major holding company.
But the son of the other friend we visited that day was different. Raised overprotectively, he
still had not built a life of his own. Seven or eight years had passed, and he still hadn’t
finished university. He rarely left the house, spent his time on the computer, and cared for
about ten cats at home. They had rented a two-story house in Antalya for him to start
university, but now that the landlord wanted the place vacated, no one knew what he would
do next. He was around twenty-six or twenty-seven.
The stories of these two women showed me how strong and patient women can be, yet how
lonely they can become. This journey I took just to harvest hazelnuts taught me not only
about the bounty of the land, but also about the quiet stories of the human heart.
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Such an exciting project! I’m also passionate about storytelling that captures the heart of Texas. It's inspiring to see independent productions bringing that vision to life. Would love to follow your journey with High Stakes.
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Thank you for sharing this exciting opportunity. Your story and approach sound very interesting. Wishing your project great success
Austin rocks! Have a screenllay playing out there that I probably turn into a comicbook series.
Good luck with your project! Cheers
Stefanie, High Stakes sounds like it’s going to be one intense and gripping ride — I love that you and your team are building it from the ground up with such heart for original storytelling. It’s alwa...
Expand commentStefanie, High Stakes sounds like it’s going to be one intense and gripping ride — I love that you and your team are building it from the ground up with such heart for original storytelling. It’s always exciting to see filmmakers bring their first project as a studio to life, especially one set in a place with as much character as West Texas.
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