Loneliness
Cahit throughout the film is experiencing deep loneliness after the loss of his wife, Katharina. So much so, that he would rather be dead. But after meeting with a psychologist he turns his desire for death into dying to himself for another. This becomes him going along with Sibel's demand to get married. He believes he is helping her, but he only drives himself into even more loneliness as he knows what a great marriage is and he now has one that will never compare as their is no intimacy nor closeness available from Sibel.
Pain
Pain is a major theme of this film. We see that Cahit and Sibel experience it to the degree that they make attempts to end their lives. After they get married, their pain increases as Cahit becomes more lonely as he's deprived of intimacy and is wounded constantly by Sibel's sleeping with other men. Sibel is wounded by his sleeping with other women. They hurt each other because of the arrangement they've made to be married but not share any intimacy.
Marriage
The theme of marriage is brought to life in this film. Akin uses the story to show that marriage is still a deep and meaningful relationship in today's world. We understand that though Cahit and Sibel marry for need that the need for a good marriage is essential, and they don't provide it to each other. Akin shows that treating marriage as a casual act is destructive to the point that people's lives are ruined.
