Once Upon a Time in Anatolia 2012

A group of men traverse the dimly lit rural landscape of Keskin in search of the buried remains of the murder victim, Yasar Toprak. Among them, the criminal Kenan reflects on the night he buried Yasar near a water fountain alongside his mentally challenged brother. However, his inebriation during the act and the consistent, disorienting scenery complicate his memory. As the night unfolds, prosecutor Nusret shares a chilling case with doctor Cemal about a woman who ominously informed her husband of her impending death shortly after childbirth. He recounts how she tragically passed away from a heart attack, yet Cemal provocatively suggests that she could have intentionally induced it through medication.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Naci intervenes, preventing Cemal from giving Kenan a cigarette, asserting that Kenan must earn it. Their search takes them to a nearby village where the mayor pleads with Nusret for financial aid to establish a morgue, underscoring that many in his community are elderly and their families wish to see them after death. A sudden gust triggers a power outage, and the mayor’s daughter offers the group tea. Enchanted by her beauty illuminated by the lamplight, Kenan unexpectedly finds himself in tears as he confides in Naci about his revelation to Yasar regarding the paternity of Yasar’s son Adem. This revelation ignited a violent confrontation that led to Yasar’s tragic demise, prompting Naci to finally grant Kenan that coveted cigarette.

As dawn breaks, Kenan uncovers the long-hidden body, and the authorities quickly observe that it has been tied up. When they attempt to untie it, they realize its position was arranged to fit snugly into the trunk of Kenan’s vehicle. In the absence of a body bag, they awkwardly stuff it into the trunk and head back to Keskin. There, Adem and his mother Gülnaz witness Kenan’s return. In an act of raw emotion, Adem hurls a small stone at Kenan, striking him on the head and evoking tears from the distraught perpetrator.

During a private conversation with Nusret, Cemal highlights a particular drug that could facilitate a heart attack—something Nusret acknowledges knowing about due to his father-in-law’s health issues. Nusret speculates that the woman might have taken her life in response to her husband’s infidelity, waiting until after the child was born to act. His words seem to allude to his own wife. Later, Gülnaz confirms that the body is indeed Yasar’s, and an autopsy reveals grim details; dirt found in his lungs indicates he was buried alive. Crucially, Cemal decides to withhold this information from the official report. As the technician conducts the autopsy, Cemal quietly observes the remaining Toprak family depart with Yasar’s possessions, a poignant reminder of the tragedy that has unfolded.