The Prophet

Kamila, a widowed mother, lives in Mustafa's house while he is under house arrest. Halim guards him and harbors a quiet longing for Kamila. Almitra, Kamila's daughter, has stopped speaking since her father's death and treats seagulls as friends.

The pompous Sergeant informs Mustafa he is technically free but must board a ship home by day's end. The Sergeant and Halim escort Mustafa toward the port while townspeople gather, some praising him as a hero and others wary of his ideas. Mustafa uses the moment to speak with Kamila, Almitra, and Halim about freedom, life, and love.

When they reach the ship, the army unexpectedly blocks him from boarding and transports him to a fortress instead. The commanding officer brands Mustafa's writings as seditious and orders him to retract them. Mustafa refuses to renounce his words and is sentenced to death by firing squad the next morning.

That evening, Kamila, Almitra, and Halim scheme to help Mustafa escape from the fortress. They discuss potential routes and whether he should flee or stay true to his beliefs. The tension between political power and personal loyalty intensifies.

Through the prison window, Almitra speaks for the first time since her father's death. Mustafa refuses to attempt escape, choosing to face what lies ahead. He delivers his final animated poem about death and asks that his paintings and writings be saved by friends before the army destroys them.

The next morning, Mustafa is led to the fortress's open yard for execution. A vast flock of seagulls swirls above and around him as he takes his place in front of the firing squad. The birds' presence underscores the film's poetic mood and foreshadows his fate.

Back at the house, Kamila and Almitra retrieve Mustafa's writings and drawings just before the army arrives. They stash the works in the woods to keep them out of reach. Their actions show a desperate bid to preserve his legacy.

Gunfire erupts as the army advances toward the house and fortress. The flock of seagulls momentarily disappears, and chaos spreads through the town. Almitra remains hopeful, insisting Mustafa is still alive.

The seagulls circle the departing ship, signaling Mustafa's fate and his art's journey toward freedom. The homebound ship carries his memories toward the sea, with his paintings and writings now out of reach of the army.

As the ship pulls away, Almitra looks to the horizon and feels Mustafa's presence nearby. She sees Mustafa's spirit aboard the ship, carried by memory and birds as the voyage continues.