Burial (2022) Plot Summary & Ending Explained

It is the year 1991, and Anna Marshall finds herself tuned into a news broadcast on her television, announcing the resignation of Russian president Mikhail S. Gorbachev. Suddenly, her tranquility is shattered when a masked intruder, donned in a wolf mask, breaks into her home. Prepared for the confrontation, Anna swiftly tases him, restraining the intruder in her bedroom. This man reveals himself to be a neo-Nazi, demanding answers about a secret mission she undertook following the conclusion of World War II. In a clever twist, Anna incapacitates him with a secret powder before beginning to narrate the gripping events of her past.

We are transported back to 1945 Poland, right after the war has ended, where Anna—under the name Brana Vasilyeva (played by Charlotte Vega)—is engaged in a covert operation with a small unit of Russian soldiers. Their mission? To transport Hitler's corpse to Stalin in Moscow. Initially, they had planned to airlift the body, but that plan has now been scrapped, forcing them to make the journey by military truck, with the coffin hidden cleverly along the way.

The venture is anything but smooth, as the group soon realizes they are being pursued by a ruthless band of Nazis who disguise themselves in wolf skins, seeking to capture the body for their own purposes. Escaping their first attack, the soldiers decide to make a stop for the night in a nearby forest. While their commander ventures to a local tavern for a drink, Brana's instincts scream danger. Determined to protect those around her, she follows him to the tavern, saves a young woman in distress, and meets Lukasz, a young man who plays a pivotal role in the unfolding chaos.

The werewolf Nazis strike again, resulting in the deaths of some of Brana's comrades. Forced to escape without the coffin, Brana appeals to Lukasz for refuge, and he takes them to an elderly couple’s home nearby. Initially suspicious of the Russians, the couple ultimately learns the grim truth of what lies within the coffin. Meanwhile, in an intense encounter, Tor Oleynik (portrayed by Barry Ward) confronts the fleeing tavern girl about the war’s consequences, but their moment is cut short as the Nazis intrude, killing the girl and taking Cpt. Vadim Ilyasov (played by Dan Renton Skinner) hostage.

As Anna emphasizes the importance of Stalin's wish to see Hitler's remains, she and Lukasz work to hide the corpse in a nearby church. During this tense moment, Lukasz discloses his true identity to Brana, and they share a fleeting moment of vulnerability amidst the horrors of war. Meanwhile, Oleynik endures torture from the Nazis as they press him for the body’s location, but their plans come crashing down when a Nazi informant reveals the Russians have been located.

What follows is a frantic exchange of fire as the Nazis assault the elderly couple’s home while the Russians barricade themselves inside. Unfortunately, the battle leads to the loss of Hitler's corpse. However, the Russians refuse to surrender. They regroup and storm the church, where the Nazis have gathered to record evidence of their supposed claim that Hitler is still alive. A fierce battle ensues, resulting in significant casualties on both sides, and ultimately, the church is engulfed in flames. Against all odds, Lukasz and Brana emerge from the chaos, destined to tell the story of this harrowing mission.

Fast forward to 1991 again, Anna confronts the captured neo-Nazi in her house, showcasing a small keepsake she has preserved from that dark chapter. In a moment of vengeance driven by the anger of losing Lukasz to a recent break-in, she poisons her captive. The nature of the keepsake remains an enigma to the audience, leaving us with unanswered questions about the past.

The film "The Burial" concludes with a powerful victory for justice and racial equality. After a long and hard-fought legal battle, Willie Gary’s team uncovers evidence of Ray Loewen’s manipulative and exploitative practices, including a shady deal with the Black Baptist church designed to sway public opinion and gain financial advantage. Despite facing setbacks such as the disqualification of Willie’s initial lead and damaging revelations about Jerry O’Keefe’s past, the case ultimately turns on exposing Loewen’s greed and dishonesty rather than focusing solely on race.

The jury, which finally reflects the community’s racial makeup, finds Loewen guilty of all charges and orders him to pay a substantial amount—$100 million in damages plus an additional $400 million in punitive damages—amounting to half a billion dollars in total. This verdict signifies justice not just in monetary terms but also as a moral victory against corporate greed and racial exploitation. The case’s outcome affirms Willie Gary’s belief in fighting for what’s right, harnessing race and injustice as powerful tools for change. At the end, Loewen’s company faces a major downfall, and Jerry O’Keefe’s family business is safeguarded and continues to thrive, proudly supporting Black communities. The film closes on a note of triumph and hope, emphasizing that truth and perseverance can lead to meaningful justice. Willie Gary’s friendship with Jerry remains strong as they move forward in their lives, inspired by the victory they achieved together.