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Timeline

Sivas (2014) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2014 · 97 mins · Turkish
Directed by
Kaan Müjdeci
Starring
Banu Fotocan, Hasan Özdemir, Çakır, Ozan Çelik, Doğan İzci, Muttalip Müjdeci

Set in a remote village in Eastern Turkey, this film tells the story of Aslan, an eleven-year-old boy, who discovers a wounded fighting dog he names Sivas. After finding the dog abandoned in a ditch, Aslan nurses him back to health, and the two form a deep and enduring bond. The story explores their growing relationship against the backdrop of the village’s harsh landscape.

On this page (4)
  1. 1 Events in order (10)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Every angle

10 events in order · contains spoilers

Sivas Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Sivas (2014) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Snow White casting announced; Aslan aims to be prince

    The teacher announces that Snow White and the Seven Dwarves will be performed by the students. Ayse is chosen as the princess and Osman the prince, a setup that makes Aslan want the prince role to impress her. He tries to convince the teacher to give him the part, but she stands firm and rejects him.

    When
    Daytime
    Where
    School
  2. Aslan pleads for the prince role but is denied

    Aslan argues his case for the prince role, hoping for a change in the casting. The teacher's decision remains unchanged, leaving him disappointed. The moment highlights the gap between his desires and the authorities’ choices.

    When
    Daytime
    Where
    School
  3. Pasture incident with the family horse

    At the family farm, Aslan is tasked with putting the old horse out to pasture. He shoos the animal with stones, and one hit causes the horse to stumble as if dead. Terrified he may have killed it, he returns with his brother Sahin to find the horse gone.

    When
    Daytime
    Where
    Family farm
  4. Secret dog fight at a secluded stream

    By a secluded stream, men gather for a dog fight away from the police. Sivas is matched against another dog and is wounded, left for dead. Aslan stays back and begs his brother to let him take the dog home, and Sahin eventually agrees to bring both dogs back.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Secluded stream
  5. Sivas recovers and Aslan tries to impress Ayse

    Aslan cares for Sivas as he recovers, showing him the same care he would show a pet. He introduces Sivas to his friends and tries to impress Ayse with the dog's progress. A bond forms between boy and dog as the animal heals.

    When
    After recovery
    Where
    Home
  6. Dog fight rematch; Sivas wins

    The owner of the dog that previously beat Sivas goads Aslan into fighting again. Reluctantly, Aslan agrees to let Sivas enter the rematch. Sivas emerges victorious, proving his fighting prowess.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Dog fighting ring
  7. Sivas is tied up; family wants to sell him

    Back at home, Aslan discovers Sivas is tied up and that his family wants to sell the dog. He throws a tantrum in protest. The original dog owners arrive, insisting on another fight, and they drive off to a larger dog-fighting gathering.

    When
    Daytime
    Where
    Home
  8. Car trip to a large dog-fighters meetup; Sivas fights again

    Together with the others, they travel by car to a large meetup of dog fighters. Sivas fights again and wins, reinforcing his status in the brutal circle. The journey itself underscores how deeply the community cycles through violence.

    When
    Day
    Where
    Car and meetup site
  9. Return home; Aslan vows no more fighting

    On the way back, Aslan declares that Sivas will not fight again. He is confronted with a grim reality when someone tells him that Sivas was always meant to be a fighter, and that destiny may override his wishes.

    When
    Return trip
    Where
    Car/Home
  10. Ending: loyalty, violence, and the dog-fighting culture

    The story closes with the tension between Aslan's love for Sivas and a culture that normalizes dog fighting. The future of their bond remains uncertain as the boy navigates loyalty and the harsh reality of the sport.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Village outskirts

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 16:06

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Timeline questions answered

Sivas Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Sivas (2014): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Aslan want to play the prince in the school play?

Aslan wants the prince role because he hopes it will help him win the attention of Ayşe, the girl he admires. When Osman is cast as the prince instead, Aslan pleads with the teacher to change the casting, but his request is denied.

Foreshadowing: This early rejection sets up Aslan's pattern of wanting things he cannot have and his willingness to fight for what he desires.

  • aslan
  • ayşe
  • school play
  • prince role
  • crush
Q2

What happens to the horse after Aslan hits it with a stone?

When Aslan shoos the old horse toward pasture with stones, one strike knocks the animal down as if it were dead. Terrified that he may have killed it, Aslan runs to fetch his brother Sahin. When they return together, the horse has disappeared, leaving Aslan uncertain whether the horse is alive or dead.

Foreshadowing: This incident foreshadows Aslan's later involvement with another wounded creature and his fear of causing harm.

  • horse
  • aslan
  • sahin
  • pasture
  • accident
Q3

Why does Aslan insist on bringing Sivas home despite his brother's refusal?

Aslan stays behind after the dog fight when he notices Sivas is still alive, not dead as the others assumed. He pleads with his brother Sahin to let him take the dog home, showing immediate compassion for the wounded animal. When Sahin refuses and leaves, Aslan remains with Sivas, using his own coat to try to warm and protect the dog.

Foreshadowing: This moment establishes Aslan's deep empathy for animals and his willingness to defy authority for what he believes is right.

  • sivas
  • aslan
  • sahin
  • dog fight
  • wounded dog
Q4

Why does Aslan agree to let Sivas fight again after the dog recovers?

After Sivas recovers, Aslan uses the dog to try to impress Ayşe and his friends. When the owner of the dog that previously beat Sivas challenges him, Aslan is caught between his loyalty to Sivas and his desire to prove something to others. Driven by a mix of hope, stubborn loyalty, and possibly peer pressure, he agrees to let Sivas fight again. Sivas wins, which boosts Aslan's confidence.

Foreshadowing: This decision shows how Aslan is gradually pulled into the village's dog-fighting culture despite his initial rescue of Sivas.

  • sivas
  • dog fight
  • aslan
  • rematch
  • victory
Q5

Why does Aslan's family want to sell Sivas?

The family sees Sivas primarily as a fighting dog with monetary value, not as a pet. When Aslan comes home to find Sivas tied up, his family reveals they plan to sell the dog, treating him as an asset rather than a companion.

Foreshadowing: This moment highlights the clash between Aslan's personal bond with Sivas and the family's practical, transactional view of the animal.

  • family
  • sivas
  • selling
  • dog fighting
  • aslan
Q6

Why does Aslan decide that Sivas will not fight again?

After Sivas wins the second fight at the large gathering, Aslan has a change of heart during the return journey. Having witnessed the brutality of dog fighting firsthand and seeing Sivas injured, he declares the dog will not fight again. This represents Aslan asserting his will and trying to protect Sivas from further harm.

  • aslan
  • sivas
  • vow
  • no more fighting
  • protection
Q7

What does the ending imply about Sivas's future?

The ending is bittersweet. While Aslan declares Sivas will not fight again, someone tells him on the return journey that Sivas was always meant to be a fighter, implying that the cycle of violence and tradition is hard to break. The future of their bond remains uncertain as Aslan must confront a culture that normalizes dog fighting.

  • ending
  • sivas
  • destiny
  • dog fighting culture
  • bittersweet
Q8

Why does the village tolerate dog fighting?

Dog fighting appears to be an accepted tradition in this remote Eastern Turkish village. The men gather openly at secluded locations away from police, treating it as normal entertainment and a way to prove a dog's worth. The culture normalizes violence against animals, and even when Aslan tries to resist, he is told Sivas was "meant to be a fighter," suggesting deep-rooted societal acceptance.

  • village
  • dog fighting tradition
  • turkey
  • culture
  • acceptance
Q9

How does Aslan's relationship with Sivas develop throughout the film?

Aslan starts by rescuing Sivas from near death, then cares for him during recovery, forming a deep bond. He then uses Sivas to seek approval from peers and Ayşe, which leads to the dog fighting again. Finally, after witnessing the consequences of that violence, Aslan tries to break the cycle by vowing Sivas will not fight more, showing growth from passive caretaker to someone trying to assert control over the dog's fate.

  • bond
  • growth
  • aslan
  • sivas
  • relationship development
Q10

What is the significance of the horse incident early in the film?

The horse incident shows Aslan accidentally causing harm to an animal he was supposed to care for. This creates guilt and fear, mirroring his later role with Sivas. The parallel suggests Aslan's desire to protect animals but also his powerlessness to prevent harm, adding emotional depth to his relationship with Sivas.

  • horse
  • symbolism
  • guilt
  • animal cruelty
  • parallel

Movie threads

More Movies Like Sivas, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Sivas tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about human-animal bonds like Sivas

Stories where a deep connection with an animal offers solace against a harsh reality. If you liked the poignant connection between Aslan and Sivas, you'll appreciate these movies that explore similar deep bonds. This list features stories where loyalty and affection between a person and an animal provide emotional sanctuary against a challenging world, much like in Sivas.

  • loyal
  • melancholic
  • tender
  • harsh
  • contemplative
  • heartwarming
  • Tone: bittersweet, melancholic, tender
  • Pacing: slow, contemplative
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows a character, often isolated or vulnerable, who forms a crucial, life-affirming bond with an animal. This relationship serves as the emotional core, challenging the protagonist's worldview and often putting them at odds with their surroundings. The central conflict frequently involves protecting this bond from external threats or societal pressures.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the redemptive power of a human-animal relationship. They evoke similar feelings of loyalty, tenderness, and protective instinct, set against backdrops that range from melancholic to harsh, creating a consistently bittersweet and emotionally resonant tone.

Bleak coming-of-age dramas like Sivas

Young protagonists confronting grim adult realities in stark, atmospheric settings. For viewers seeking movies like Sivas that explore a child's loss of innocence against a difficult backdrop. These films share a similar slow, atmospheric pace and a bittersweet tone, depicting young characters grappling with adult-sized problems in rural or isolated environments.

  • melancholic
  • atmospheric
  • harsh
  • lonely
  • contemplative
  • gritty
  • Tone: melancholic, bittersweet, bleak
  • Pacing: slow, atmospheric
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives follow a child or young adolescent whose worldview is fundamentally shaken by exposure to the unvarnished cruelties or rigid traditions of their community. The journey is less about typical adolescent growth and more about a quiet, often painful, assimilation into a complex and unforgiving adult world. The endings are seldom purely happy, instead reflecting a newly acquired, heavy understanding.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their specific mood: a melancholic, atmospheric exploration of childhood's end. They share a slow, deliberate pacing that allows the emotional weight of the setting and situation to sink in, creating a powerful sense of place and a consistently bittersweet or bleak emotional resonance.

Every angle

Sivas (2014) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Sivas in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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