Elaha

Elaha is a German drama about a twenty-two-year-old woman of Kurdish descent who is preparing for her wedding. Believing she must appear as a virgin to satisfy societal and family expectations, she seeks a hymen reconstruction surgery. However, she cannot afford the procedure. As she struggles to find the money, she begins to question the purpose of these traditional requirements and feels torn between her love for her family and her desire for personal independence.

The film was directed by Milena Aboyan, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Constantin Hatz. This was the first of four films Aboyan directed between 2023 and 2026. The movie stars Bayan Layla in the title role, supported by Armin Wahedi Yeganeh, Derya Durmaz, Derya Dilber, Cansu Leyan, and Beritan Balcı. The production was a collaboration between ARTE, SWR, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, and Kinescope Film.

Released in November 2023 with a runtime of 110 minutes, the film received generally positive feedback from viewers. It holds a rating of 6.7/10 on IMDb based on 507 votes and a 6.3/10 rating on TMDB from 22 votes.