Naim's experience of kindness in Bulgaria is shattered on December 26, 1984, during the "Dark Night," when a campaign called the "Operation Return to Roots" is launched against the Turkish minority. This assimilation campaign bans Turkish language classes in schools, closes mosques, halts Turkish-language newspapers, and prohibits speaking Turkish in public spaces.
Due to the racist mindset of the communist regime, Turks in Mestanlı are beaten and humiliated by soldiers. Under the guise of "National Liberation," Turks are brutally murdered. Naim's family, who happen to be at the Sofia Sports Hotel at the time, becomes one of the many affected by this violent operation.
The film not only tells Naim's life story but also sheds light on the history of the Turkish minority living in Bulgaria during the 1980s and 1990s. It poignantly depicts the alienation, denial, and humiliation faced by the Turks in that era.
In this context, the main theme of the film is Naim's struggle to bring global attention to the oppression of the Turkish minority perpetrated by Todor Jivkov's regime in Bulgaria, reflecting national pride through his achievements.
Bulgaria turns physical oppression into psychological warfare by forcing people to change their names. They present a list of names and suggest that individuals choose from it, all while falsely claiming that this is not mandatory.
Naim's father is compelled to change his name to a Bulgarian one, while his mother's name becomes Anastasia Mıhailova Severinova. The extent of Bulgaria's hatred is so severe that even the names on the gravestones of the deceased are altered.
Naim Süleymanoğlu, Bulgaria's pride, also falls victim to this name assimilation, as his name is changed to Naum Shalamanov. The political establishment uses Naim as a strategic figure, forcing him to read a statement that is not his own and that he never wished to express: "It is normal for me to take a Bulgarian name. Thanks to the Communist Party that governs the Republic of Bulgaria, I became a champion. Therefore, I support the Bulgarian Communist Party. I love and care for our country, Bulgaria."
After reading this coerced statement, Naim is declared the "heroic son of Socialist Bulgaria." He understands the necessity of being close to friends and even closer to enemies, often appearing as one of them while keeping his inner fire alive. Naim played along, leading them to believe they were using him, but he was only biding his time. He had found his weapon, and soon, he would shout the truth to the whole world.
After Bulgaria uses Naim as a propaganda tool, he responds by transforming his success in weightlifting into a means to be the voice of the Turkish minority. Having had his identity erased, Naim seeks asylum in Türkiye. He then dedicates himself to working hard to break more records. Behind all his efforts lies the desire to make the silent cries of the Turks in his homeland heard by the world.
