Not: The article contains spoiler about the movie.

“Chronology,” the second feature film by screenwriter-director Ali Aydın, can be described as a psychological drama with elements of thriller. The story of the film revolves around Hakan and Nihal, a couple who have been married for many years and live in Istanbul. Shortly after learning that she cannot have children, Nihal suddenly disappears. While Hakan desperately searches for his wife, he embarks on a journey where he will learn many things about himself and his surroundings. As the police search for Nihal and Hakan tries to find her, we begin to witness the decay of their relationship and the approaching end of their marriage.

“Chronology” is a movie that crosses genres, drawing from elements of mystery, suspense, crime, detective work, and drama, while also having a political and social background.

It unfolds as a story of ‘disappearance’ and gradually reveals a different perspective on the plot, challenging and overturning all preconceptions, as the credits roll in the middle of the movie, piecing together the puzzle.

In the first half of the movie, director Ali Aydın depicts Hakan’s sincere doubts about Nihal’s infidelity and his genuine efforts to find her. He goes to the police to search for her, questions his friend Meral, confronts Cengiz, whom he suspects of betraying him, and confides in Cengiz’s wife, Esma. In the second half, the movie confronts the harsh realities; it turns out Nihal didn’t disappear, but instead had a serious argument with Hakan upon returning home at night. In the heat of the moment, Hakan slaps her, and she hits her head on a drawer. Hakan dismisses the injury, continues working in his room, and falls asleep. Hours later, he wakes up to find Nihal dead. Initially devastated, he then calmly devises a plan to act as if Nihal never came home, covering up the murder and creating the illusion of her disappearance.

The conversation between Nihal and Cengiz towards the end of the movie is striking. Nihal reveals that she is pregnant, but she is so worn down by the psychological abuse Hakan has subjected her to in all aspects of life that she no longer wants to be with him or give birth to his child. When anyone asks why Hakan couldn’t have children, the question is always the same: “Whose fault is it?” This question is a reflection of our contemporary society.

However, events eventually lead to the police discovering that Hakan killed Nihal, and he is arrested. When a prison guard tells Hakan that Nihal was pregnant when she died, his reaction is shocking: “Whose child was it?” In response, the guard swiftly slams the iron window shut, and the film ends.

“Chronology” is a movie that engages the audience in Hakan’s journey to find his missing wife. It can be said that the plot and the ending are quite well-executed. As a recent arthouse movie, “Chronology” stands out with its screenplay and cinematography. Especially, a single-shot scene where we witness Nihal coming home and arguing with Hakan maintains high tension.

The main cast, including Birkan Sokullu, Cemre Ebüzziya, Tansu Biçer, and Serkan Keskin, delivers strong performances.

Through the character of Nihal, “Chronology” depicts how women become invisible objects in both personal and social life after marriage, shedding light on the cruelty of male-dominated culture with compelling suspense.