ABOUT DRY GRASSES / KURU OTLAR USTUNE

ABOUT DRY GRASSES / KURU OTLAR USTUNE – Turkey-France-Germany, 2023,  197 min., Drama

Director: Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Writers:  Akin Aksu, Ebru Ceylan, Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Cast: Deniz CelilogluMerve DizdarMusab Ekici

The story at the center of About Dry Grasses focuses on a young Turkish teacher named Samet, played by Deniz Celiloglu. The film is set entirely in a small village in a snowy, cold remote region of Turkey. Samet goes to this village and works as a teacher for an elementary school, teaching the local kids about art and spending his evenings reading or chatting with his friend. He is accused of abusing a student. The story then morphs into something else, as he meets a woman named Nuray, played by Merve Dizdar, and attempts to pursue a relationship with her. He seems to lose all hope of escaping from this gloomy life. However, Nuray helps him gain a whole new perspective and challenges him to examine himself and admit his own flaws and limitations.

AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS:

2023, Cannes Film Festival

Winner Best Actress: Merve Dizdar

Nominee Palme d’Or: Nuri Bilge Ceylan