Written, shot and edited by Deniz Türkoğlu Hewes

Acting by Alisha Hatice Erözer

In loving and eternal memory of Semra Türkoğlu

True beauty inspires a sense of effortlessness. We catch glimpses of this in the details of a face that whisper to us of moving character, an old building in decay that yet still stands tall, raw materials and vastness of landscapes.

Nature of beauty abides by the same laws of nature like anything else and comes face to face with decay, day after day. Vulnerable yet so undeniably alive through the inspiration it exudes, beauty necessitates maintenance. And what is effortless now dances with this labor-some act. A labor of love, passed down through generations, and possibly effortless only if one can remember to never overstep and give into the illusion that what is beautiful can be controlled, tamed or altered ın an effort to reach an ideological and fleeting concept of perfection. 

Therefore what is beautiful tells tales of love, care and labor, relentlessly and through generations. This is brief an insight into how this piece was inspired by my family home in Büyükada, an island off the coast of the Istanbul. Especially watching how my family members’ roles evolved in caring for this house, as my grandmother got older and later passed away in 2025 brought to me these contemplations on beauty decay and resilience.

I was also blessed by a dear friend and neighbor in Büyüada who also shares my name, Deniz, told me a recurring dream of hers where porcelain dolls wash up on a shore. This strong image captured me and I felt that an attempt to try and analyze it would fall short. This relief from scrutiny opened the door for free associations, inviting themes of surrender and resilience, nature and maintenance that can seemingly conflicting but coexist in this work through visuals of a female figure, marble, milk and an old wooden house.

A special thank you to my dad, Ruşen Türkoğlu and his dear friend and filmmaker Akif Ergüleç who donated his time, expertise and Super 8 camera for the creation of this film.