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About Dry Grasses

Play trailer 1:29 Poster for About Dry Grasses Released Feb 23, 2024 3h 17m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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92% Tomatometer 71 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Nestled away in wintry East Anatolia, public-school art teacher Samet (Deniz Celiloğlu) yearns to leave the sleepy village for cosmopolitan Istanbul. Further disenchanted when he and Kenan (Musab Ekici), a colleague, come under public scrutiny, Samet fears circumstances will keep him in Anatolia and his dreams of a new life permanently out of reach. A silver lining is a budding relationship with Nuray (Merve Dizdar), a fellow teacher and firebrand who develops connections with both Samet and Kenan, forcing Samet to confront what he can't readily accept.
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About Dry Grasses

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Critics Consensus

About Dry Grasses keeps us warm with dark humor through its unhurried and verbose wintry meditation on the human condition.

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Critics Reviews

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Danny Leigh Financial Times Cinephiles will rejoice at the arrival of an art-house event movie, and the return of Ceylan’s painterly eye and stark philosophy. His grip can be hypnotic. Rated: 4/5 Aug 7, 2024 Full Review Wendy Ide Observer (UK) Tiptoes around the edge of being suffocatingly verbose, and there are scenes that could stand a tighter edit. Still, the meaty, novelistic writing and exceptional quality of the performances make for a rich and engrossing viewing experience. Rated: 4/5 Jul 29, 2024 Full Review Tara Brady Irish Times The vigorous, masterful script, written by the director his wife and frequent collaborator Ebru Ceylan, counterpoints the extended runtime. The director says he could have made the film longer; remarkably, most viewers will agree. Rated: 5/5 Jul 27, 2024 Full Review Calum Baker Radio Times It's Dizdar, who won the best actress award at Cannes for her efforts, who steals the show and brings a steely heart to Ceylan's sad-sack black comedy. Rated: 4/5 Nov 19, 2024 Full Review Hayley Croke Loud and Clear Reviews The film imposes on itself at times, reproving points that felt sufficiently made earlier on, and drags on seemingly not knowing what is completely necessary to keep and what scenes are not needed to prove the points the film wants to make. Rated: 3/5 Oct 20, 2024 Full Review Alexa Dalby Dog and Wolf Eventually the snow lifts, but meanwhile the hearts of the people have been stunted and dried up, like the ruins of a once-mighty civilisation that can now be visited, and who knows what can happen? Rated: 5/5 Jul 30, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ayse The subject , acting ,and wonderful landscape..Unlike Hollywood movies , it is filled with philosophy.. Nuri Bilge Ceylan is genius , when it comes to making great movies.. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/04/24 Full Review Raphael G Masterfully shot. I love the contemplative pace. I was kept nonetheless very much engaged in the dialogues and the landscape and the film's mood. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/09/25 Full Review Luis I Having recently seen Once Upon a Time in Anatolia, I found this film to be a similarly immersive and visually stunning experience, with its own unique tension and surprises. The scenes are long but meticulously crafted, drawing the viewer into the setting and the lives of the characters through strong dialogue and direction. Narratively, the film unfolds like a loose sequence of events, occasionally losing track of certain plots and conflicts before eventually weaving them back together in service of its central theme: ideals and the act of idealizing people, places, and situations. The film also plays with audience expectations in interesting ways. A key plotline is introduced early on, only to be set aside and revisited much later, while the second half of the film shifts focus to a different issue involving some of the same characters. The characters are exceptionally well-developed, their strengths, flaws, and insecurities emerging naturally through expertly written dialogue. The performances are outstanding, which is a testament not only to the actors but also to the direction. The cinematography features long, unbroken shots with minimal camera movement, none of which feels unnecessary. However, a few moments do draw attention to themselves through certain camera movements and editing choices, slightly breaking immersion. Then there’s that scene, one that completely pulls the viewer out of the narrative, overtly reminding us that we’re watching a film. I found it fascinating, though I can see how some might find it jarring or alienating. While the film’s deliberate pacing is mostly justified and immersive, it can at times become exhausting, especially given its lengthy runtime and extended scenes. Some moments might have benefited from tighter editing, though that could have come at the cost of the film’s naturalistic dialogue and performances. An intermission at the midpoint might have helped, offering audiences a chance to reflect before continuing. Overall, it’s a rewarding watch, but it demands patience. For those willing to embrace its pacing and runtime, it delivers a profound and existential experience. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/23/25 Full Review Rob R Couldn't cope with te length. Knock 45 mins off and it would be 4.5 stars Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 12/09/24 Full Review Dave S In Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s About Dry Grasses, set in the wind-swept, desolate expanses of Turkey’s East Anatolia, the landscape mirrors the lives of the characters – empty and seemingly without hope. Over the course of more than three hours, three teachers try to come to terms with the considerable shortcomings that seemingly prevent them from escaping their fate. Beautifully shot and edited, intelligently written, and filled with subdued but effective performances, it is a film about jealousy, injustice, obligation, and the life-altering impact of external influences, among other things. While some viewers may find the running time and pacing an issue (not to mention the weird meta scene towards the end), it's one of those rare movie experiences that will leave you examining your own lot in life in a new way. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/01/24 Full Review Ernest L About Dry Grasses is a very good drama that moves slowly telling the story of a school teacher working in a small remote village in Turkey. His goal is to complete his 4 year compulsory service so he can transfer to Istanbul. He is introduced to another teacher he likes but is hesitant about developing a relationship with her. Two of his classmates, young girls, accuse him of inappropriate contact. He is finding out love, teaching present many challenges. No killings, no sex, just a very good drama about life. I enjoyed About Dry Grasses. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/30/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Nestled away in wintry East Anatolia, public-school art teacher Samet (Deniz Celiloğlu) yearns to leave the sleepy village for cosmopolitan Istanbul. Further disenchanted when he and Kenan (Musab Ekici), a colleague, come under public scrutiny, Samet fears circumstances will keep him in Anatolia and his dreams of a new life permanently out of reach. A silver lining is a budding relationship with Nuray (Merve Dizdar), a fellow teacher and firebrand who develops connections with both Samet and Kenan, forcing Samet to confront what he can't readily accept.
Director
Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Producer
Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Screenwriter
Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Ebru Ceylan, Akin Aksu
Distributor
Sideshow / Janus Films
Production Co
Memento Films Production
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Turkish
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 23, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
May 21, 2024
Box Office (Gross USA)
$118.7K
Runtime
3h 17m
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