Sivas 2014

The film follows an eleven-year-old boy named Aslan and his growing bond with a fighting dog named Sivas. The opening sequences paint Aslan’s days at school and at home, where everyday moments with classmates and family carry a tense undertone, hinting at conflicts simmering beneath the surface of a tight-knit village.

At school, the teacher Okan Avci announces a production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Ayşe, a girl Aslan admires, is chosen to play the princess, while Osman takes the role of the prince. Aslan, however, longs for the prince part, hoping it will win Ayşe’s attention. He pleads with the teacher to be cast as the prince, but the request is denied, leaving his feelings unfulfilled and his aspirations unfulfilled for the moment.

Back at home, Aslan is tasked with moving the family’s old horse to pasture. He attempts to shoo the animal away with stones, and one strike knocks the horse down as if it were dead. Fearing that he has harmed the creature, Aslan runs to fetch his brother, Sahin. They return to find the horse gone, adding to the sense of upheaval that threads through his days.

A secluded stream becomes the scene of a dog-fighting gathering attended by the village men. There, Sivas fights another dog, is wounded, and left for dead. Aslan stays behind when he notices the dog isn’t dead and pleads with his brother to let him bring the dog home. When Sahin refuses, Aslan remains with the wounded animal as Sahin departs, trying to coax the dog toward warmth and safety using his own coat.

Sahîn eventually returns to take both boy and dog home, and Aslan begins to care for Sivas as the dog recovers. He introduces Sivas to his friends and uses the dog’s presence in hopes of catching Ayşe’s eye. The taunting grows louder—the owner of the defeated dog challenges him—and, driven by a mix of hope and stubborn loyalty, Aslan allows Sivas to fight again. Sivas answers the challenge and emerges victorious, boosting the boy’s confidence and deepening the dog’s reputation.

One day, a troubling turn arrives when Aslan comes home to find Sivas tied up. His family reveals plans to sell the dog, and the old owners return, pressing for another fight. They all pile into a car and travel to a large dog-fighting gathering, where Sivas again proves formidable by winning.

On the return journey, Aslan declares that Sivas will not fight again. Yet the harsh reality of the world around him is echoed in the belief that Sivas was meant to be a fighter, and the cycle of blood and tradition seems hard to break.