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BELKIS BALPINAR
Artist, Kilim Expert, Curator
  elkis is a warrior, a visionary and the perfect example of the struggle one has to undertake for "self-expression". Her tapestry art is inspired by science and yet the form of it is deeply traditional.
 he film opens up with Belkis teaching rural women how to weave her geometric designs for her new exhibition in Europe. The village women are accustomed to weaving the traditional motifs that date back to the goddess religions of Anatolia. At first they balk at the idea of Belkis' futuristic designs but slowly learn to incorporate it into their work.
 onfident and outspoken, Belkis has helped several women escape their abusive husbands. During the rare quiet moments of her life, she reflects back on her choices and realizes that she never had the right to choose her own mate. She married a much older artist to escape from the confines of her traditional family then she stayed married because divorce was looked down upon. Finally she had the courage to divorce and pursue her dream of becoming an artist.
ON HER IDENTITY:
"I want to be known as a global artist... I want to be accepted as a global artist... Istanbul is where I live but my art is global..."
ON WESTERN ATTITUDE:
"I feel like the West views me through a filter. They first see me as a woman from the East, from an Islamic country..."
ON FAMILY AND TRADITIONS:
"To have to lie is a horrible thing. It is against my character. But when I was younger I had to lie to my mother about my boyfriend. My family forced me to lie."
ON HER FUTURE AND HER PAST:
"I want to know more about the mystery of life. As we get older and closer to death, we wonder about the meaning of life. Think about it, if I was born in a village and if I was not educated, could I be the warrior I am today?"
NUR MARDIN
Teacher, Women's Rights Activist, Wife and Mother
 ur is a retired university professor and a very busy women's rights activist. Charming, soft-spoken and maternal in a youthful way, Nur spends most of her time working on different projects that benefit the underprivileged and uneducated girls and women of Turkey.
ur comes from a family of strong women scholars. To protest the wearing of the veil, Nur's own great aunt tried to commit suicide, by throwing herself into the treacherous waters of Bosphorus.  She was saved by fisherman and went on to become one of the first female professors in Turkey.
ON HONOR KILLINGS:
"Honor killings are still committed, especially in the Southeastern region bordering Syria and Iraq. The situation is much worse in the Arabic countries. Honor killing is the act of murdering a woman to clean a family's honor. If a woman is raped or if a woman runs away with a man she loves. Her family decides that she has brought dishonor to the family and to only way to clear that is to kill her. Usually the family gives this task to the youngest male member because a juvenile will not be in prison for long."
hrough Nur's activism, we meet a variety of different women and explore their struggles to have a better life.
BANU YUCELER HANTAL
Student and Dancer
anu recently got married and now splits her time between Turkey and the United States where she intends to get further training and experience in the field of Developmental Psychology. She was a champion ballroom dancer and Latin dance performer. She now teaches Latin dance and bellydance-fitness classes.
anu represents the younger generation of emancipated Turkish women. She is soft-spoken but confident and direct.  She is passionate about her personal interests: psychology, dance and spirituality.
 ears ago, Banu was in conflict with her family when she moved out of the family home to her own apartment at age 20. Banu had to constantly reassure her family that she loved them but wanted to have her own space. When she became a dancer and started to perform on television, the main concern of her mother was, "what would the neighbors and relatives think?" She was also in conflict with her friends and fellow students because she pursued ballroom dancing instead of a steady, secure job after graduating from college. This mindset prevailed even though she and her partner had won titles in several European competitions. Her academic circles also looked down upon her spirituality. However, Banu is a fighter and she is determined to live her life the way she chooses.
ON HER CHOICES:
"In Turkey, if you are a young woman, you have to fight for your dreams and your personal freedom. But once you do, people respect you and then you can live your life according to your own choices. That's what I strive for everyday."
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