'About Dry Grasses' tops Turkish box office on opening weekend

Renowned Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan's new film “About Dry Grasses” (“Kuru Otlar Üstüne”) debuted at the top of the Turkish box office this weekend, attracting more than 70,000 moviegoers.

Wednesday October 04 2023 11:37 am

Duvar English

Award-winning Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s latest feature “About Dry Grasses” (“Kuru Otlar Üstüne”) took the top spot at the Turkish box office with 70,157 viewers on opening weekend, grossing some eight million liras.

“About Dry Grasses” also became Ceylan’s most watched film on its opening weekend, passing the 2018-movie “The Wild Pear Tree” (“Ahlat Ağacı”) which attracted some 47,000 viewers.

“Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie” also debuted at the second spot with 41,630 viewers.

Ceylan’s 197 minute-long “About Dry Grasses” focuses on a young art teacher Samet hoping to be appointed to Istanbul after his mandatory duty at a small village in eastern Anatolia. Samet’s life changes after he meets another teacher Nuray, and after being accused of abusing a student.

Merve Dizdar won the Best Actress award at the 76th Cannes Film Festival for her role as teacher Nuray in the film.

The director previously said that he wanted the film to convey the “gradual change” in the personal beliefs of civil servants and teachers who were sent to compulsory duty in Eastern Anatolia at an early age.