Ladies

Arzu, a relationship therapist who decides to end her fifteen-year marriage, starts to hear her inner voice when she's alone. However, this voice is that of a 'hag'. Arzu must break free from the voice of incessant criticism and find her own voice.

Arzu (40), a therapist advising on relationships, decides to end her 15-year marriage upon discovering infidelity. Amid the separation's intense emotions, an inner voice emerges within Arzu, not her own, but that of a grumpy old woman. In a patriarchal society, every grown woman has this collective ‘grandmother’ within, waiting to wake up, now constantly criticizing Arzu. Cuckoldry is a failure that is hard to overlook for a therapist. Or is the truth that she has already turned into her husband’s mother hard to confront? What about accepting that she has been exploited financially and emotionally? As an expert, well aware of escape routes, Arzu tries suppressing this voice with medication, but running away burdens her more. Soon after, 93-year-old neighbour Mrs Ismet, with Alzheimer’s, the embodiment of Arzu's inner voice, disrupts her life. Additionally, Arzu falls for her supervisor, an impossible love. Arzu must restore her life, untangle the mess, and find her own voice.

Keywords: women

Director's note:
The camera will have a dual perspective to bring out this irony. While following Arzu with a moving camera, we will also change the POV and watch how Arzu sees life. The difference between the seen and the felt will fuel the sitcom. The old lady's sarcastic inner voice will represent the relationship women establish with themselves and pave the way for dialogue comedy. We'll tap into Arzu’s analytical mind to dissect the awry societal structure. Sometimes, we will explain it for dummies with a graph and sometimes incorporate absurd elements like "men appearing when a woman parks" casting.
The series' structure will include comedy's most important element: 'repetition.' The episode themes will be set in Arzu's therapy session as the opening scene. We'll see how Arzu cannot apply the advice she gave to her patients in her own life.

Producer's note:
In many narratives, women over 40 are relegated to supporting roles, although they constitute a substantial portion of the digital content audience. "Ladies" seeks to challenge this by placing women in the centre, acknowledging that 40 marks a new chapter filled with opportunities for self-discovery for many. While the themes explored in "Ladies" resonate universally, telling this story in the context of Turkey holds particular significance. By bringing "Ladies" to life within the vibrant streets of Istanbul, we’ll capture the essence of a community grappling with societal pressures and governmental constraints, all within the intimacy of a neighbourhood. We envision "Ladies" as an 8-episode digital series spanning three seasons. Bringing this vision to fruition requires creative collaboration and financial support. We seek co-producers who share our passion for authentic storytelling and are committed to amplifying diverse voices in the ever-evolving digital entertainment landscape.