What Survives

Adalet Ulusoy is recovering from severe burns to her legs, the death of her parents, and the loss of her unborn child, all resulting from a massive earthquake on the Black Sea Coast of Turkey.

When her husband deserts her for another woman, his wealthy family sends her to live in a vacant home they own in the pottery village of Avanos. In Avanos, Adalet meets the formidable blind and elderly Fatma. Fatma is the grandmother of a teenage budding artist, Meryem. Adalet discovers Meryem's talent through Meryem's mischievous behavior.

Adalet convinces Fatma that art school will be much better for Meryem than an arranged marriage. With Fatma's help, and against the backdrop of a changing and developing Turkey, Adalet and Meryem move to Istanbul so that Meryem can study art. There they meet an American art professor from New York City. Through love, mentorship and the horrifying events of September 11th, their lives are forever changed.