Funda Eryiğit
Gökçe
Overview
From an intoxicating fantasy to a dangerous affair, a wealthy married woman finds her life irreversibly shattered after picking up an unpublished novel.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Manuscript That Ate Istanbul
I kept waiting for the film to wake up. Not in the literal sense—Ashes is wide awake, its camera gliding through Istanbul’s sun-bleached streets with the confidence of a director who knows exactly how to frame a face against a crumbling wall. But somewhere between the second and third act, the story itself seems to nod off, lulled by its own premise.
That premise is seductive: a wealthy woman, Gökçe, stumbles upon an unpublished manuscript whose plot mirrors her life so closely it blurs the line between fiction and reality. It’s the kind of hook that should leave you breathless, the way a good thriller does when it first tightens its grip. Instead, Ashes spends most of its runtime circling the drain of its own potential, as if it can’t decide whether it’s a psychological drama, an erotic thriller, or a meditation on the stories we tell ourselves to survive.
Erdem Tepegöz, the director, has a background in visual anthropology, and it shows in the way he lingers on textures—the grain of wood in a carpenter’s workshop, the sheen of sweat on a woman’s collarbone, the way ash from a cigarette curls into the air like a question mark. The cinematography, by Hayk Kirakosyan, is the film’s most consistent strength, toggling between the sterile opulence of Gökçe’s modernist home and the cluttered, lived-in chaos of Metin’s world (the carpenter, played by Alperen Duymaz, who may or may not be the "M" from the manuscript).
The contrast is deliberate, almost heavy-handed: her life is all clean lines and empty spaces, his is a maze of half-finished projects and lingering glances. You can almost hear Tepegöz whispering, See? This is what class looks like. But the film’s visual intelligence is undermined by a script that can’t seem to trust its own metaphors.
Take the manuscript itself. It’s the MacGuffin that should drive the plot, but instead of deepening the mystery, the film keeps explaining it away. Gökçe reads a passage aloud—"She knew the moment she saw him that her life would never be the same"—and the camera cuts to Metin, as if to say, *See?
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsNetflix’s Ashes (2024): A Turkish Romance with a Social Edge
Turkish director Erdem Tepegöz’s latest film, Ashes (Turkish title: Kül), landed on Netflix in February 2024, bringing a steamy romance with a side of class conflict. The movie follows a wealthy, married woman (Funda Eryiğit) who falls for a mysterious carpenter (Alperen Duymaz), setting off a chain of emotional and social turmoil 
. latestnetflix.com's take is that With Tepegöz’s background in documentary filmmaking and visual anthropology, Ashes promises more than just a love story—it’s a drama with a social realist lens .
The Plot: Love, Money, and Power Struggles
Ashes centers on a forbidden romance between Eryiğit’s character, a privileged woman trapped in a loveless marriage, and Duymaz’s enigmatic carpenter. Their affair ignites tensions that ripple through both their personal lives and the broader social hierarchy. The film’s premise suggests a critique of class divides, a theme Tepegöz has explored in his previous work . While Netflix hasn’t released a full synopsis, early descriptions hint at a narrative that blends passion with societal friction, a hallmark of Tepegöz’s storytelling .
The Cast: A Mix of Rising Stars and Veterans
The ensemble cast includes some of Turkey’s most recognizable faces:
- Funda Eryiğit (The Gift, Love 101) plays the lead, a role that could showcase her range as an actress who often portrays complex, emotionally layered women.
- Alperen Duymaz (Love Tactics, The Protector) takes on the role of the carpenter, a character described as "mysterious" in early buzz . Duymaz has built a reputation for playing brooding, intense love interests, making him a fitting choice for the part.
- Mehmet Günsür (The Club, The Wild Pear Tree) and Nur Sürer (The Pit, The Innocents) round out the supporting cast, adding depth to the film’s exploration of family and societal pressures .
The rest of the cast—including Gökçe Eyüboğlu, Seda Türkmen, and Yıldıray Şahinler—brings additional star power, though their roles remain largely under wraps .
Behind the Scenes: Tepegöz’s Signature Style
Erdem Tepegöz is known for his socially conscious filmmaking, often drawing from his background in documentary and visual anthropology . While Ashes marks a shift into the romance genre, early indications suggest it won’t abandon his signature themes. The film’s focus on class conflict aligns with his previous work, which often examines power dynamics in Turkish society.
Netflix’s decision to pick up Ashes (released on February 9, 2024) reflects the platform’s growing investment in Turkish content . The streaming giant has been expanding its library of local productions, and Ashes fits neatly into its strategy of offering globally appealing dramas with a regional flavor.
**Is Ashes Worth Watching?**
Early buzz is limited, but the combination of a star-studded cast, a director with a strong artistic vision, and a premise that blends romance with social commentary could make Ashes a standout. If Tepegöz delivers on his promise of a story that’s as much about societal tensions as it is about love, the film might resonate beyond typical romance audiences .
For now, viewers will have to decide for themselves—Netflix has made Ashes available globally, so the verdict is just a click away .
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.