2023 · Feature · 197 min
About Dry Grasses
Director Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Cast: Deniz Celiloğlu, Merve Dizdar, Musab Ekici, Ece Bağcı
A art teacher serving mandatory duty in Eastern Anatolia sees his hopes of a transfer to Istanbul shaken by an accusation and a new encounter.
Samet is an art teacher hoping for a transfer to Istanbul after years of mandatory service in a remote Eastern Anatolian village. He shares a house with his colleague Kenan. When both become the target of an abuse allegation involving a student, village rules, friendship and personal hopes begin to crack. Meeting Nuray, a teacher in a neighbouring village, shifts Samet’s perspective.
Written by Nuri Bilge Ceylan with Ebru Ceylan and Akın Aksu, the film competed at Cannes 2023 where Merve Dizdar won Best Actress. It was Türkiye’s Oscar submission.
Awards & Festivals
- Cannes 2023 — Best Actress (Merve Dizdar)
- SİYAD 2024 — Best Film, Director, Screenplay, Actress/Actor
- Lumière 2024 — Best International Co-Production
- Türkiye’s Oscar submission (2023)