ABOUT DRY GRASSES Trailer: Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s Ambitious Drama Arrives in February

Turkish master of cinema Nuri Bilge Ceylan returns with his first film in 5 years. About Dry Grasses had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival where star Merve Dizdar was awarded Best Actress for her performance. The drama, which is Turkey’s official entry to the 96th Academy Awards, centers on the blurred lines between teacher and student. It centers on a disdainful teacher (Deniz Celiloglu) and his relationship with a pupil (Ece Bağcı) as well as a fellow teacher (Merve Dizdar), with whom he seeks solace. It also went onto screen at TIFF and NYFF. Ceylan co-wrote the script with Akin Aksu and Ebru Ceylan. Sideshow and Janus Films have just released the official U.S. trailer ahead of its release early next year.

Here’s the official synopsis:

In a village nestled within the wintry landscape of the East Anatolia region of Turkey, an art teacher named Samet (Deniz Celiloglu) is struggling through what he hopes to be his final year at an elementary school. Already tiring of the unforgiving environment, where he has been assigned by the government’s public education system, Samet is further disillusioned and frustrated after a young girl in his class, Sevim, appears to accuse him of inappropriate behavior. The only light on the horizon for Samet is his growing friendship with—and clear attraction to—a teacher from a nearby school, Nuray (Merve Dizdar), a sharp, politically engaged woman unafraid to put the self-involved Samet in his place for his general apathy and narcissism.

About Dry Grasses opens in theaters February 23, 2024. See the official U.S. trailer and poster below.

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