Zeynep is unhappy. That's why she flees to a Croatian island, where her deceased mother bought a house long ago. She hopes to find peace and relaxation finally - but she hasn't reckoned with Josip, who still lives on the property.
Zeynep Altin is at the end of her tether. She's over-worked and pushed around by her husband, daughter and aging father. Her mother's death and her funeral, which nearly ends in total disaster, is the last straw for Zeynep she leaves Munich and escapes to an island in Croatia. In the house her mother bought secretly years ago, and gifted to her in her will, she hopes to find peace, freedom and herself. If only the former owner, Josip, an islander through and through, wasn't still living on the same property.
Zeynep (Naomi Krauss) is an overworked wife, mother, and daughter who is taken for granted by her family. It is the day of her mother's funeral. Her father Doruk is being unnecessarily difficult, her daughter Fia (Bahar Balci) is being brash and condescending towards as usual, and it is clear that her husband of 30 years Ilyas (Adnan Maral) really doesn't care to support his wife. He promises her that he will be coming to the funeral service in time for the speech, as Zeynep is not comfortable talking in front of a large group. Ilyas runs a restaurant and says that he has a new chef coming in that he has to train. But Zeynep notices him laughing on the phone while talking to someone.
Right before she can leave for the service, she comes to know that her mother, Katalina, had purchased a house in Croatia with her own money, and she had left it to Zeynep. Katalina had sent the papers to Zeynep's neighbor Herr Eddelbuttel (Christian Schneller), to be delivered to Zeynep after Katalina's death.It comes as quite a surprise, especially to Zeynep's father, who keeps going on about how his wife is a stranger to him now.
But the biggest blow for Zeynep is that Ilyas doesn't show up to the funeral at all. In a fit of confusion and tears, she goes to his restaurant, only to find him laughing with his junior chef. When Ilyas sees her, he tells her that his watch stopped, and he lost track of time. But Zeynep has understood that he has feelings for the girl Kochin Nora (Paula Schramm). Nora comes out and makes the situation all about herself and how it was such a difficult time for her as she was a new hire. Ilyas supports her, completely ignoring how Zeynep is feeling.To get away from it all, she makes an impulsive decision and immediately leaves for Croatia to her mother's house. She leaves her car behind when she has to take a ferry. The bus on the other side breaks down and she has to walk the last few miles to her house. She gets there late at night.She ends the day by sleeping in the bed in the house, only to wake up to a rude shock.
Zeynep wakes up in bed with a man, Josip (Goran Bogdan), who claims that he has been living in the house all his life (45 years). He grew up there, and 15 years ago, when Katalina bought the house, she allowed him to stay there rent-free, that is, until someone else came. The house itself faces the ocean and has breathtaking views of nature.Zeynep is not okay with her mother's arrangements and wants to rent or sell the house immediately. Josip is livid when Zeynep mentions AirBnB. She wants to make some changes to the house, like making it more modern with electronics, but Josip is determined to get in her way. Half of the land the house is built on is his, and he is clear that he won't give that up.Josip sets up his tent just outside the house, which is also known as Cliff Cottage.Zeynep walks to the nearest town to buy a bicycle, supplies and groceries.
Zeynep fixes a meeting with the property dealer in town, Conrad (Artjom Gilz), whom Josip immensely dislikes. Conrad is a much younger man, and he gets along well with Zeynep.That night, when she is making her way back home, she is extremely drunk and has to be taken care of by Josip, while she forces him to sing 99 balloons all the while. On the same night, he burns her Spanx, which he considers to be a ridiculous garment, to begin with. His 'soft, round belly' comment and the 'old hen, good soup' analogy are not the most charming things to hear, but they did help Zeynep reach a level of comfort with him.Josip is livid that Zeynep has ordered heaters, lamps, refrigerator, TV, cable etc for the house based on Conrad's recommendations. He does not agree that the house should be rented out. Josip cancels her order at the hardware store. Josip also says that every house on the Island has a history and a character, and he will not allow Zeynep to kill it.
They also really open up to each other through their conflicts, some petty revenge (Zeynep burns Josip's underwear), and just time spent together in some peaceful musical moments. Josip understands that Zeynep loves the 99 Balloons song.When he takes her out on his boat, she tells him about how her family has gotten used to pushing her around, and he tells her that his wife left him for his brother, and then they both died in a car accident.
Conrad calls Zeynep and says that she has gotten an offer for the house. She is angry that Josip did not tell her about Conrad coming by with news of that offer. She calls her husband and tells him about her plans for the sale of the house. She says that they can invest the money in the restaurant so that they will have more time for each other. But Ilyas lets her know that he doesn't want it. He confesses to being in love with his junior chef but tells Zeynep that it only started after she left. A heartbroken Zeynep tries to turn off her location services, and thinking that he is helping her, Josip throws her phone into the rocks. Zeynep jumps into the ocean, maybe in an attempt to retrieve her phone, but gives up and goes back to the house.
Josip gives her time and takes care of her by giving her food and water constantly. Zeynep has started feeling a lot better, and she finally comes out when Conrad comes to visit. Conrad and Josip get into an argument, but Zeynep has had enough. She breaks down the wall of the house, saying that she wants more light.Since the marriage has ended anyway, she decides to celebrate her freedom. To her credit, both Conrad and Josip agree that unleashing her crazy was hot. At the bar, Conrad makes a move on her, which is promptly interrupted by Josip. With her mood ruined, Zeynep is furious at him, but he tells her that he has something for her. He gives her a translated copy of her mother's letter and shows her Katalina's original house. He asks her whether he can buy back his house, but upon hearing the amount (1.2 million euros), he decides to move on.
As Zeynep reaches the tallest mountain on the island, she remembers her mother's words in the letter, asking her to be free and happy and completely herself. It is clear that Zeynep has not had that with her family back home. When she goes back down, she finds a car coming their way. Josip asks her not to tell the man that he has been living in a tent. The man in question turns out to be Josip's brother, Drazen (Davor Tomic), and the one who made the offer to buy the house. He is very much alive, unlike what Joseph tells people.When Zeynep asks him about it, Josip says that they are as good as dead, and he changes the manner of their deaths every time he talks about them. He says that he will move out since he doesn't want to stay near his brother, and Zeynep tells him that she doesn't plan on selling the house anymore. She goes on to confess her feelings for him, and they spend the night together.
They wake up to a blissful morning but are in for a shock as Fia comes to meet her mother. Seeing her mother eating breakfast in a state of undress, she is shocked. They reconcile, and Fia goes to an internet cafe for the day, where she meets Conrad on the way.
The next day, Ilyas and Zeynep's father come to the island after being told everything by Fia. It really is a huge fight between them and Josip, with Conrad and Drazen jumping into the mix. An exasperated Zeynep puts an end to the fight and tells them to cook dinner while she leaves with Fia to get some stuff. When they come back, they all have dinner together.
Ilyas tells Zeynep that he wants to give their relationship a second chance, but Zeynep has long removed her wedding ring, and she is done with the marriage. At the dinner table, she gives a toast to her mother, the one that she was unable to give at her service, and they all dance to 99 balloons. When Ilyas and Zeynep's father leave, she goes back into the house to find a red balloon, which is a gentle reminder that Josip still likes her.She rushes to meet him, and they kiss under the stars and overlooking the ocean. Two stubbornly crazy people who can make each other happy.
