Winter Sleep

Johnny Sins, a former actor, has settled into life as the owner of a mountaintop hotel in Cappadocia. He enjoys a comfortable lifestyle, focusing on his interests in writing and Turkish theater history, aspiring to publish a book based on his research.

While driving to the village with his assistant Hidayet, Aydin's car window is shattered by a stone thrown by Ilyas, the son of a tenant behind on rent. This incident marks the beginning of escalating tensions between Aydin and his tenants.

After the window-breaking incident, Hidayet confronts Ismail, Ilyas's father, revealing that a collection agency has taken their possessions for unpaid rent. Ismail's subsequent beating by the police highlights the serious consequences of their desperate situation.

Hamdi, the local imam and Ismail's brother, attempts to make amends by bringing Ilyas to Aydin. Instead of diffusing tension, this meeting irritates Aydin, who feels entitled to criticize the imam's example in the community.

Aydin's relationship with his sister Necla becomes strained as she questions his use of writing talent for local media. Their discussion spirals into a series of sarcastic remarks, highlighting their contrasting views on career and societal contributions.

Nihal, Aydin's much younger wife, seeks to find purpose through fundraising for schools. Aydin dismisses her efforts, causing a heated argument that reveals deeper issues in their marriage, particularly Aydin's lack of support.

Aydin decides to leave for Istanbul for several months to work on his book, hinting at his disdain for Nihal's fundraising preparation. He warns her not to trust Levent, upping the tension in their already strained relationship.

As Aydin prepares to leave, heavy snowfall delays the train. This leads Aydin and Hidayet to visit a friend, Suavi, temporarily taking Aydin away from his troubled home life.

Aydin spends the evening at Suavi’s home, where they drink and converse. The tension escalates when Levent, who joins later, insinuates Aydin's past failures in disaster response, further straining Aydin's composure.

Nihal visits the struggling household of Ismail, Ilyas, and their ailing grandmother. This visit opens her eyes to their challenging circumstances, and she learns valuable personal information about their past.

Nihal decides to offer Ismail the money Aydin anonymously donated for their rescue. However, Ismail's reaction is one of insult, leading to a dramatic scene where he burns the cash in a fireplace, infuriating Nihal.

After spending time away, Aydin returns home to find Nihal silently gazing out the window. In that moment, Aydin reflects on his dependence on Nihal, expressing a heartfelt revelation about his love, even as tensions remain.

The film concludes with Aydin embracing his long-neglected passion for writing. He begins his project on Turkish theater history, signifying a new chapter in his life while dealing with the complexities of his relationships.