Time of Departure (Göç Zamanı) is a Turkish drama series that aired on Star TV in 2016. The series tells the powerful story of a courageous mother who risks everything to protect her daughters from oppression and give them a chance at a better future. Set between the traditional environment of Mardin and the modern city of Istanbul, the drama explores themes of family, motherhood, honor, sacrifice, love, and women’s struggle for freedom.
TV Series Details
| Attribute | Details |
| Original Title | Göç Zamanı |
| English Title | Time of Departure |
| Genre | Drama |
| Episodes | 15 |
| Broadcast Network | Star TV |
| Broadcast Period | January 30, 2016 – May 10, 2016 |
| Production Company | Limon Film |
| Director | Veli Celik |
| Screenwriters | Oya Yuce, Peri Oruc, Gozde Baykara |
| Filming Locations | Mardin and Istanbul, Turkey |
Synopsis
The story follows Cennet, a strong and determined woman living in Mardin, a city in southeastern Turkey. As a young woman, she was forced into an arranged marriage as the second wife of a wealthy man. Throughout her life, she endures hardship, cruelty, and discrimination while trying to raise her children in a male-dominated society.
Cennet’s life becomes even more difficult when her eldest daughter, Zümrüt, earns admission to a university in Istanbul. Instead of allowing her daughter to pursue higher education, Cennet’s husband plans to marry her off to a local landowner in order to settle his debts. Refusing to let her daughter suffer the same fate, Cennet makes a life-changing decision. She escapes from Mardin with her daughters and heads to Istanbul in search of freedom and a better future.
However, life in Istanbul brings new challenges. While trying to adapt to the big city, Cennet and her daughters become involved in the lives of wealthy businessman Yılmaz and his family. At the same time, Yemin, Cennet’s son who was raised by another woman and does not know the truth about his real mother, follows them to Istanbul seeking revenge and hoping to restore the family’s honor. As secrets emerge and relationships develop, Cennet must continue fighting to protect her children and keep her family together.
Main Cast
| Actor | Character |
| Vahide Perçin | Cennet |
| Talat Bulut | Yılmaz |
| Tilbe Saran | Hanım |
| Cansu Tosun | Zümrüt |
| Elif Ceren Balıkçı | Kiraz |
| Gürkan Günal | Yemin |
| Arzu Gamze Kılınç | Sevgi |
| Bertan Asllani | Demir |
| Engin Benli | Artem |
| Romy Vasiliadis | Leyla |
Supporting Cast
| Actor | Character |
| Burak Tamdoğan | Bilal |
| Ali Erkazan | Cemal |
| Nurana Bagieva | Hande |
| Şükrü Çavuşay | Zafer |
| Mehmet Çepiç | Ahmet |
| Berre İsra Talikacı | Güneş |
| Bige Önal | Didem |
Character Details
Cennet (Vahide Perçin)
Cennet is the heart of the story. She is a resilient mother who has spent years enduring hardship and injustice. Her greatest dream is to ensure that her daughters have opportunities and freedoms that she never had. She is willing to sacrifice everything to protect her children and secure a brighter future for them.
Yılmaz (Talat Bulut)
Yılmaz is a wealthy businessman in Istanbul who appreciates Cennet’s talent as a carpet weaver. Despite his successful career, he struggles with personal problems and an unhappy marriage. He becomes an important source of support for Cennet and her daughters after they arrive in Istanbul.
Hanım (Tilbe Saran)
Hanım is the first wife in Cennet’s husband’s household. Unable to have children of her own, she becomes jealous of Cennet and treats her harshly. Her actions play a major role in shaping the difficult life that Cennet experiences.
Zümrüt (Cansu Tosun)
Zümrüt is Cennet’s eldest daughter. Intelligent and ambitious, she dreams of attending university in Istanbul and building an independent life. Her desire for education becomes the catalyst for the family’s escape from Mardin.
Kiraz (Elif Ceren Balıkçı)
Kiraz is one of Cennet’s daughters. She has a strong personality and often struggles to adapt to the dramatic changes that come with moving to Istanbul. Despite the challenges, she pursues her own dreams and aspirations.
Yemin (Gürkan Günal)
Yemin is Cennet’s son, who was taken from her and raised by Hanım. Unaware that Cennet is his biological mother, he grows up believing a different version of the truth. Determined to defend his family’s honor, he follows Cennet to Istanbul, creating intense conflict and emotional drama.
Sevgi (Arzu Gamze Kılınç)
Sevgi is Yılmaz’s wife. Her jealousy and insecurities create tension within her marriage and affect the people around her. She becomes one of the obstacles that complicate Cennet’s new life in Istanbul.
Demir (Bertan Asllani)
Demir is a young man who becomes involved in the lives of Cennet’s daughters. His relationship with Zümrüt develops as the story progresses, adding romance and emotional depth to the series.
Read: The Boy (Cocuk) TV Series.
Time of Departure (Göç Zamanı) is a touching family drama that highlights the strength of a mother’s love and determination. Through Cennet’s journey from Mardin to Istanbul, the series explores social traditions, family honor, women’s rights, and the sacrifices parents make for their children. With emotional storytelling, memorable characters, and meaningful themes, Time of Departure remains a compelling Turkish drama about courage, hope, and the pursuit of a better life.