An exiled Turkish poet who currently lives in Frankfurt, Germany. He travels to the impoverished border city of Kars under the guise of journalism to investigate a recent wave of suicides among young women. His true motive involves reconnecting with a former classmate he wishes to marry. A melancholic man disconnected from his roots, he finds sudden creative and spiritual inspiration in the snowfall of Kars.

A practical and observant woman who recently divorced her husband and moved back into her family's hotel. She carries a sense of worldly experience that contrasts with Ka's idealism. As she works at the Snow Palace Hotel, she observes the escalating political tensions in Kars with caution.

A mysterious Islamic militant operating underground in Kars. He commands intense loyalty from local religious students through his charisma and storytelling abilities. He views Western influence with deep suspicion and actively works to counter secular state policies.

The fierce and outspoken younger sister of İpek. She acts as the unofficial leader of the local young women who refuse to remove their headscarves for school. Initially adopting the scarf as a form of rebellion against secular state authority, she develops a deep commitment to the political and spiritual movement.

An aging theatrical actor with a grandiose sense of his own historical importance. Famous for playing leftist revolutionaries decades ago, he travels the provinces performing nationalist plays. He uses a heavy blizzard that isolates Kars as an opportunity to violently force his secular ideology onto the town.

A sensitive, highly imaginative teenager studying at the religious high school in Kars. He dreams of becoming a science fiction writer and often worries about the nature of faith. He connects quickly with Ka, finding a kindred artistic spirit in the older poet.

A mayoral candidate running on a religious platform in Kars. Once a secular leftist during his university days alongside Ka, he experienced a spiritual awakening following personal struggles. His shifting political and religious allegiances cost him his marriage.

A ruthless operative and former communist who aligns with the theatrical coup in Kars. He orchestrates the secret police operations, detaining and interrogating citizens to enforce secular authority during the blizzard.

A student at the religious high school who shares a deep bond with his best friend. He worries constantly about the spiritual state of his peers and wrestles with his own religious doubts in the face of local tragedies.

The gentle, reclusive proprietor of the Snow Palace Hotel. A former leftist who endured political persecution in his youth, he now watches the radicalization of the next generation with profound concern. He prioritizes the safety of his family above all ideological battles.

The cynical publisher of the Border City Gazette, the local newspaper. He treats journalism less as a record of facts and more as a tool to shape reality, occasionally printing articles about events before they even occur.

A writer and long-time associate of the protagonist. He takes a profound interest in his old friend's journey to Kars, seeking to understand the burst of poetic inspiration that occurred there by tracking down witnesses and old notebooks.

A traveling actress who performs alongside her husband in politically charged plays. She physically enacts the secularist ideals of the theatrical troupe by dramatically burning a headscarf on stage, inciting intense reactions from the local audience.

A devout student who was raised in a traditional household. She experiences profound grief over the loss of a peer and struggles deeply with the state mandate forcing her to uncover her head in order to receive an education.

A respected Kurdish religious leader residing in Kars. He provides spiritual counsel to locals struggling with despair and offers a welcoming environment for those questioning their faith or seeking community.