Experiencing Interruptions?

What Is There to Remember?

Hülya is a teacher caring for her mother, Nermin, who suffers from Alzheimer’s, while also managing the responsibility of preparing a school performance with her students. Torn between her mother’s fading memories and her students’ excitement and hope, Hülya rediscovers that teaching is not just a profession but the art of leaving meaningful marks on human lives.

  • Oğuz AKYOL
    Director
  • Oğuz AKYOL
    Writer
  • Oğuz AKYOL
    Producer
  • Mine ORHAN
    Key Cast
    "Nermin"
  • Bahar ÇINAR
    Key Cast
    "Hülya"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Hatırlanacak Ne Var?
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    19 minutes 23 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 17, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    3,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Türkiye
  • Country of Filming:
    Türkiye
  • Language:
    Turkish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital 4K
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Oğuz AKYOL


Oğuz Akyol is a filmmaker and educator with extensive experience in directing, screenwriting, producing, and post-production. He has directed short films such as "Inside (İç)" (2021), "Well Done! (Aferin!)" (2024), "The Last 5 Minutes (Son 5 Dakika)" (2024), and "What’s to Remember? (Hatırlanacak Ne Var?)" (2024), along with numerous music videos and public service announcements.
Akyol specializes in video editing, color grading, and sound design, often taking on these roles himself in his projects. He also shares his expertise by providing training for teacher groups in these technical areas. His films explore themes such as education, empathy, and personal growth, combining technical proficiency with compelling storytelling. Dedicated to crafting inspiring and relatable visual narratives, Akyol continues to pursue the creation of impactful and high-quality works.

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Director Statement

"What Is There to Remember?" is not just a story for me; it is also a reflection of a personal journey. While writing and directing this film, I wanted to explore the fundamental emotions of humanity and question the power of memory and love. For me, it was essential to portray how the teaching profession leaves a profound impact on human lives, even during the most challenging times.

Hülya’s story is about a teacher trying to balance two extremes: her struggle to hold onto the fading memories of her Alzheimer-stricken mother and her effort to guide her students' hopeful world. This conflict mirrors the invisible challenges that teachers face every day.

As a teacher myself, I wanted to bring my professional experiences and the misconceptions about teachers in society to light through this film. Teachers are often viewed as “robots,” with their emotions, sacrifices, and dreams overlooked. My goal was to challenge this perception and convey the professional and personal struggles of teachers to the audience.

Ultimately, "What Is There to Remember?" is not just one person’s story—it’s all of ours. This film speaks to the universal connections we build with our past, our loved ones, and ourselves. As the writer, director, and creator of this project, I hope everyone who watches it can find a piece of themselves in this story.

"Hatırlanacak Ne Var?" benim için sadece bir hikaye değil, aynı zamanda kişisel bir yolculuğun yansıması. Bu filmi yazarken ve yönetirken, insana dair en temel duyguları, hafızanın ve sevginin gücünü sorgulamak istedim. Hayatın en zor dönemlerinde bile öğretmenlik mesleğinin insan hayatına nasıl derin izler bıraktığını anlatmak, benim için bir zorunluluktu.

Hülya’nın hikayesi, bir öğretmenin hayatını iki farklı uç arasında dengelemeye çalışmasının hikayesidir: bir yanda Alzheimer hastası olan annesiyle geçmişine tutunma çabası, diğer yanda öğrencilerinin umut dolu dünyasına rehberlik etme arzusu. Bu çatışma, aslında öğretmenlerin her gün yaşadığı görünmez mücadelelerin bir yansımasıdır.

Aynı zamanda bir öğretmen olarak, bu filmle kendi mesleki deneyimlerimi ve öğretmenlerin toplumdaki yanlış algısını gözler önüne sermek istedim. Çoğu zaman, öğretmenler olarak bizlere birer “robot” gibi bakılıyor; duygularımız, fedakarlıklarımız ve hayallerimiz göz ardı ediliyor. Filmde bu algıyı kırmayı ve öğretmenlerin hem mesleki hem de kişisel mücadelelerini izleyiciye hissettirmeyi hedefledim.

Sonuç olarak, "Hatırlanacak Ne Var?" sadece bir bireyin değil, hepimizin hikayesidir. Bu film, geçmişimiz, sevdiklerimiz ve kendimizle kurduğumuz bağların evrensel bir yansıması olarak izleyiciye sesleniyor. Filmi yazan, yöneten ve hayata geçiren biri olarak, umarım izleyen herkes bu hikayede kendisinden bir parça bulabilir.