What Is Elbow About?
The premise of Elbow in 287 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In Berlin, seventeen-year-old Hazal is trying to imagine a life larger than the one mapped out around her. She works in her mother’s bakery, sends out job applications, and attends job-training programs, only to find the city’s possibilities repeatedly narrowing around her. Her mother pushes her toward a hairdressing apprenticeship, while her aunt Semra, a social worker, encourages her to finish her Abitur. One offers a practical route into working life; the other sees a mind capable of greater things. Hazal wants something more immediate: the feeling that she has chosen her own direction.
That desire gives her everyday life a restless, impatient pulse. On the eve of her eighteenth birthday, she and her closest friends are looking for a night that feels like a true threshold—one that could briefly lift them out of the ordinary. When a shocking event interrupts the celebration, Hazal’s wish for escape is transformed into a sudden, unplanned flight. The change in circumstances leaves her with no comfortable script to follow, and Berlin’s familiar confines recede behind her.
Her journey opens onto a larger, more uncertain world. In Istanbul, she must learn the fragile balance between independence and vulnerability, between the future she imagines and the structures that shape the choices available to her. The film’s tone is intimate and textured, blending the humor, hunger, and vulnerability of youth with the friction of family expectations and a society that does not always make room for a young woman’s ambitions. Semra’s affection and faith in Hazal offer a counterweight to that uncertainty, while the city itself becomes both refuge and riddle. What starts as a birthday wish becomes a searching question: who is Hazal when the life she expected is suddenly taken away?
What Happens in Elbow?
The complete story of Elbow, from the first scene to the last, in 250 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 3 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Living in Berlin, 17-year-old Hazal is desperate for a better future, hoping to achieve more in life than her parents did. She finds herself torn between two paths: her mother pressures her to pursue a hairdressing apprenticeship, while her aunt Semra, a social worker, encourages her to complete her Abitur. Despite working at her mother’s bakery and sending out hundreds of job applications, Hazal receives no responses. She attempts to attend job training programs, but these prove to be too time-consuming and are marred by experiences of discrimination.
On her 18th birthday, seeking an escape from her mundane existence, Hazal goes out to party with her best friends. After being rejected from a club, the group becomes involved in a confrontation with a student at a subway station. The encounter turns fatal when Hazal shoves the student onto the tracks, resulting in his death.
Terrified, she flees to Istanbul to be with Mehmet, a call center agent she had frequently flirted with via Skype. However, the reality is grim; Mehmet is a drug addict who becomes physically abusive toward her. During a police raid on the apartment—intended to arrest Mehmet’s roommate for political agitation—Hazal sustains a head injury but manages to escape. She eventually reaches out to Semra, who travels to Istanbul to deliver the news that Hazal has been officially charged with manslaughter. Although Semra urges her to surrender to the police and finish her education while incarcerated, Hazal chooses a different path, hugging her aunt before disappearing alone.
Elbow Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Hazal's life in Berlin” to “Running away alone”. 10 events name a place, across 4 locations.
- 1
Hazal's life in Berlin
17-year-old Hazal lives in Berlin with her family and dreams of getting one step further in life than her parents did. She works at her mother's bakery, where the daily routine feels monotonous and unfulfilling. Despite her ambitions, she struggles to find a path toward a better future.
Where:Berlin
- 2
Conflicting advice about her future
Hazal's mother pushes her to take up a hairdressing apprenticeship, seeing it as a practical way to secure her future. Meanwhile, her aunt Semra, who works as a social worker, encourages her to finish her Abitur instead. The differing visions for her future create tension around what path Hazal should take.
- 3
Hundreds of unanswered job applications
Hazal sends out hundreds of job applications in hopes of finding an opportunity, but she fails to receive any responses. Each unanswered application deepens her frustration and sense of being stuck in life. Her fervent wish for a chance seems increasingly out of reach.
- 4
Discrimination in job training programs
Hazal attends job training programs in an attempt to improve her prospects, but she encounters discrimination. She also finds the programs to be too time-consuming, making them feel like yet another dead end. These experiences further wear down her hope for a better life.
- 5
Hazal's 18th birthday
On her 18th birthday, Hazal wants to forget her humdrum life and let loose. She decides to go out partying with her best friends, hoping for a night of fun and freedom. The night represents an escape from the frustrations of her daily existence.
When:Hazal's 18th birthday
- 6
Turned away from the club
Hazal and her friends attempt to get into a club to celebrate her birthday, but they are turned away. Disappointed and frustrated, their plans for a fun night are ruined. The rejection sets a sour tone for the rest of the evening.
When:Night of Hazal's 18th birthday
- 7
Altercation in the subway station
After being turned away from the club, Hazal and her friends get into a confrontation with a student in a subway station. The argument escalates into a physical fight. What begins as a heated dispute quickly spirals out of control.
When:Night of Hazal's 18th birthday Where:Subway station in Berlin
- 8
The fatal shove
During the fight, Hazal shoves the student, and he falls onto the subway tracks. He dies from the incident, turning a birthday celebration into a tragedy. The moment change Hazal's life forever, transforming her from an ordinary teenager into someone responsible for a death.
When:Night of Hazal's 18th birthday Where:Subway station in Berlin
- 9
Fleeing to Istanbul
Hazal flees Berlin and travels to Istanbul to escape the consequences of the student's death. She moves in with Mehmet, a call centre agent whom she regularly flirted with over Skype. The move puts distance between her and the tragedy, but leaves her isolated in a foreign city.
Where:Istanbul
- 10
Mehmet's true nature revealed
Living with Mehmet turns out to be a nightmare, as he is revealed to be a drug addict. He becomes physically abusive toward Hazal, making her situation even worse than before. The hope of finding refuge with him collapses entirely.
Where:Istanbul
Show the other 5 events of Elbow Hide the last 5 events
- 11
The police raid
Police raid Mehmet's apartment in order to arrest his roommate for political agitation. During the chaos of the raid, Hazal's head is injured. Despite her injury, she manages to escape from the apartment.
Where:Mehmet's apartment in Istanbul
- 12
Reaching out to Semra
Alone and injured in Istanbul, Hazal contacts her aunt Semra for help. Having run out of options and places to turn, her aunt is her last hope. Semra agrees to come to Istanbul to help her niece.
Where:Istanbul
- 13
Semra arrives in Istanbul
Semra travels to Istanbul and meets with Hazal. She delivers the grave news that Hazal has been charged with manslaughter for the student's death. The confrontation with reality marks a turning point in Hazal's flight from justice.
Where:Istanbul
- 14
Semra's plea to turn herself in
Semra urges Hazal to turn herself in to the police and face the consequences of her actions. She tells her that she could finish secondary school while in prison, offering a glimmer of hope for a future. It is a plea for Hazal to take responsibility and reclaim her life.
Where:Istanbul
- 15
Running away alone
After embracing her aunt in an emotional farewell moment, Hazal makes her decision. She hugs Semra and then runs away alone, choosing not to turn herself in. Her fate and future remain uncertain as she disappears once more.
Where:Istanbul
Who Are the Main Characters in Elbow?
3 characters, among them Hazal, Semra and Mehmet: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- H
Hazal
Played by Melia Kara
Hazal, portrayed by Melia Kara, is a complex character struggling between familial expectations and her own aspirations. Her journey from a hopeful teenager to a fugitive underscores her desperation and the weight of her decisions.
- 👩🎓 Protagonist
- 🥺 Struggler
- S
Semra
Played by Mina Sagdiç
Semra, played by Mina Sagdiç, is Hazal's supportive aunt who represents a potential guiding force in her life. Her role brings a contrasting perspective to Hazal's chaotic experience, urging her towards education and accountability.
- 👩🏫 Mentor
- 🤗 Supportive
- M
Mehmet
Played by Doğa Gürer
Mehmet, depicted by Doğa Gürer, is a call center agent with a troubled past. His character serves as a symbol of the grim realities Hazal faces when escaping her life in Berlin, reflecting the darker sides of dependency and abuse.
- 👤 Antagonist
- ☠️ Troubled
Where and When Is Elbow Set?
Elbow is set in Berlin and Istanbul (Contemporary). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Contemporary
The movie takes place in the contemporary era, reflecting the societal challenges faced by young people today. During this time, issues like discrimination and youth disenchantment are prevalent, impacting the characters' lives significantly.
Where
Berlin, Istanbul
Berlin, the vibrant capital of Germany, is known for its rich history and cultural diversity. It serves as the backdrop for Hazal's struggles and aspirations. Istanbul, bridging Europe and Asia, adds another layer of complexity to her story, where she faces harsh realities and danger.
- 🏙️ City
- 🌍 Location
What Are the Themes of Elbow?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Justice, Abuse and Education.
-
01
Justice
Justice is a central theme as Hazal grapples with the consequences of her actions, leading her down a troubling path. The theme explores the fine line between right and wrong, as well as the impact of societal expectations on personal choices.
-
02
Abuse
The theme of abuse manifests starkly in Hazal's life in Istanbul, where her relationship with Mehmet reflects both emotional and physical turmoil. This aspect highlights the dangers of escapism and the quest for belonging.
-
03
Education
Education, or the lack thereof, plays a crucial role in Hazal's story. With her mother pushing her towards a hairdressing apprenticeship and her aunt advocating for her education, the theme emphasizes the struggles faced by youth in making life-altering decisions.
What Kind of Film Is Elbow?
Dark in tone, with variable pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Variable
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Ambiguous
A relentlessly grim, tense coming-of-age drama where systemic frustration gives way to flight, abuse, and an uncertain act of self-preservation.
- tense
- grim
- claustrophobic
- lonely
- anxious
- oppressive
- coming of age
- manslaughter
- social discrimination
- youth unemployment
Content notes: fatal violence, physical abuse, intimate partner abuse, drug addiction, child endangerment, police raid.
Quiz
How well do you remember Elbow? Test yourself on the story.
