After perestroika in the Soviet Union there is a total collapse of the Soviet system, which leads to chaos in the country. The protagonist of the film, a foreign student, after graduation does not want to return to his country because of the military coup that took place there. But the Soviet government gave clear deadlines for him to leave the country.

Mother Elif is known to be philanthropic and wise. She shares deep spiritual values such as love, peace, equality, sharing, tolerance, and compassion with all life she comes into contact with. This film shows her eventful life.

The story takes place in Harbiye town of Antakya just before the 1960 military coup d'etat. The economic and political crisis of those days are reflected by the both funny and sad story of a family. The story is told from the eyes of Cemal. Now a famous painter, Cemal goes back to his hometown years later and remembers his childhood. In those days Cemal's father and uncle, member of rival political parties, are in a continious struggle with each other. The film depicts this absurd struggle and the strange stories of people in Harbiye together with the lyric story of the famous waterfall of the town.