A young man from rural Turkey arrives in Istanbul with dreams working on a ship and stays with a cousin while he searches for work. Over time, the former’s struggles to find employment and the latter’s troubles and disappointments strain their relationship and living situation.
In the last years of the Ottoman Empire, a poor little Anatolian town named Saripinar is hit by a minor earthquake which has neither destroyed nor left it with many casualties. However, a telegraph sent to the central government exaggerates the situation and mentions that the governor of the town has been severely wounded, making the event a nationwide matter.
Leyla, a Turkish classical music soloist who is the envy of everyone, is shaken by the loss of her friend Cemal Bey, an udi from the instrumental ensemble. Leyla goes to Mr. Cemal's house, talks to his family, and begins to see the musician's feelings for her in a new light.
