Yaren

Uluabat Lake serves as a livelihood for the surrounding villagers with its abundant waters. Amidst the fishing activities on the lake, it also hosts a heartwarming human story of the extraordinary friendship between Fisherman Adem Yılmaz and a stork named Yaren. The documentary, starting from this heartwarming tale, also draws attention to the decreasing natural beauties over the years.
After working as a laborer in Bursa, Adem Yılmaz retires and returns to his village, Eskikaraağaç, which he has always loved. Upon his return, he immediately starts his father’s profession of fishing by getting a boat and fishing gear. One day in 2011, a stork lands on his boat, which surprises him. He offers it some fish he caught. Curiously, Adem waits to see if it will return the next day. Indeed, the stork returns the next day, and Adem continues to feed it, thus beginning their extraordinary friendship.
One day, the village headman suggests giving a name to this stork, and the name Yaren is proposed. Adem Yılmaz likes this name very much and starts calling the stork Yaren from then on. Every February, Adem becomes excited as he waits for Yaren. The journey is long, and as Adem contemplates all the adverse conditions from Africa to Turkey, his excitement grows even more. Upon seeing Yaren return safely, he breathes a sigh of relief. The friendship between Adem and Yaren has lasted for 13 years. Adem says he will continue this friendship for as long as he can, but he is also worried. Climate change has affected Uluabat Lake, and due to decreasing water levels over time, fewer storks come now. This is Adem’s greatest concern.