Living the life you want and honoring your family and their traditions collide in the forlorn but optimistic romantic drama Beyto, from director Gitta Gsell.

Beyto is a Turkish swimmer whose pool passions aren’t shared by his parents. His mother and father operate a restaurant in Switzerland, and Beyto’s father doesn’t understand why his son would want to swim for another country when they are not originally from there. Beyto’s mother hopes that he will get married and he can live a life more attuned to people in their home country.

Beyto’s perspective of living as an out gay man starts to change when he sparks a flirtation with Mike, a trainer who doesn’t hide his sexuality. Early on, he picks up on Beyto’s secret and flirts with him by showing off his body or his stamina at the gym. They are innocent interactions that lead to something more physical between them, but Beyto’s family life makes it difficult for him to even consider expressing who he is in his everyday life. So their romance remains a secret.

Beyto’s parents are determined to take their son’s destiny into their own hands and they take him back to Turkey for an arranged marriage. Beyto’s potential bride, Seher, is a childhood friend, and he can’t see himself chained to a life he doesn’t want, and he doesn’t want to ruin the lives of many people in the process.

As Beyto, newcomer Burak Ates gives his character a tentativeness because he knows what’s at stake. He doesn’t want to offend his parents despite their lack of understanding of him being gay. Mike, played by Dimitri Stapfer, knows his effect on others (his sly grin will melt you), but he also has to learn patience and cooperation due to Beyto’s Turkish heritage. Beyto is a little-seen example of knowing that once you find love, there might be more work ahead. You can’t be prepared for just the happy ever after.

- Joey Moser