In the last year of his mandatory service in a remote village in wintry East Anatolia, public-school art teacher Samet (Deniz Celiloglu) sees his escape to bustling Istanbul on the horizon. However, when he and his colleague Kenan (Musab Ekici) are accused of inappropriate conduct by two students, Samet’s dreams of escape quickly turn to despair. Faced with the prospect of a permanent life in the village, Samet finds joy in his budding relationship with the politically engaged Nuray (Merve Dizdar), a teacher at a neighboring school. When Nuray develops connections with Samet and Kenan both, Samet must confront what he has long ignored within himself. The latest feature from philosophical director Nuri Bilge Ceylan (Once Upon a Time in Anatolia, Winter Sleep), known for his grand imagery and quiet dramas, touches upon the very essence of how we live versus who we wish to be.