Burning Days: Turkish thriller, about a young prosecutor who gets involved in a political conflict during his investigation.
Plot and background
In the small town of Yaniklar, in the middle of the dry and hot plains of Anatolia, there is a gaping hole. The groundwater has been overused to such an extent that the porous soil threatens to swallow entire houses. Some of the water has now stopped flowing altogether, which is why the young prosecutor Emre (Selahattin Pasali) is asked to keep a close eye on the authorities in the remote village. It quickly becomes clear that chaos reigns in Yaniklar, and Emre’s attempts to demonstrate his authority and that of the law are not well received.
At a dinner in the mayor’s house, the young prosecutor literally ingests the raki and the situation spirals out of control. Emre’s memories of that dramatic night are dark, but it soon becomes clear that the initial hospitality of the local leaders has changed and he has become a pawn in their scheming machinations against his will. When Emre is confronted with his first criminal case, it gives him a deep insight into the social structures and pushes the inexperienced lawyer to his limits.
The official trailer promises a tense political thriller:
“Burning Days” – background, cast, theatrical release
Turkish director and screenwriter Emin Alper brings “Burning Days”, a gripping thriller inspired by the latest political developments in his home country, to the big screen. His first feature film, “Tepenin Ardi” (“Beyond the Hill”), also delivered a biting, enigmatic commentary on Turkish social structures as a Western parable and won numerous awards, such as the Caligari Prize at the Berlinale.
Selahattin Pasali (“Midnight at Pera Palace”) plays the dedicated prosecutor Emre, a lonely, idealistic man who fights the corrupt elite of a fictional small town. Other roles include Ekin Koç as a journalist for the local opposition newspaper, Erol Babaoglu as a lawyer and son of Mayor Şahin, Selin Yeninci as Judge Zeynep, and Erdem Şenocak and Sinan Demirer.
“Burning Days” premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, where the film screened in competition in the “Un Certain Regard” series and was nominated for the Queer Palm. In this country, the political thriller is scheduled to open in theaters on September 28, 2023.
