“About Dry Grasses”, Beyond all ideas right and wrong

“About Dry Grasses” we stand watch on the frustrating landscape of loneliness and despair. Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s welcomes us to a world that opens-up with many layers; in a bold, shocking and provocative approach,

The moving effect of cinema, human nature and human behavior on the big screen; We are in the light of a work in which is presented with nakedness and cold blood, in a close bond with literature. We are in a narrative about the complexity and desperation of Turkey’s socio-political landscape, in a world where the desire to be loved, the emotional hunger for new and fresh feelings, and unlimited and endless selfishness provoke the audience. Nuri Bilge Ceylan brings together his cinema with voices that are often disturbing, empathetic and always from an internal point of view. Behold: “About Dry Grasses”.

We share the screenplay chair with Ebru Ceylan, who has been the director’s life partner for many years, and Akın Aksu, with whom she started working on the movie “Ahlat Ağacı”. The screen opens on the steppes, in the countryside, above dry grasses; just like it did in “Uzak” where Ceylan has found his first Cannes success. No need to hurry! As the hidden curtains of the scenario are opened, the narratives recur to the souls of the viewer. In this scenario, we see some of Ceylan’s most complex and ultimately despicable heroes realize themself in immersive ways.

The language tones itself in a way that deciphers all the distortions and mentality in sarcastic ways. For Nuri Bilge Ceylan, objectively this is an expected situation. What is unexpected though is the attitude with which he handles this structure.In the core of this attitude we witness; bold technical choices, a toyful structure and unexpected character setups that we have never seen in any other movie.

We discuss at length the conflict of identity crises, midlife crises, political inertia and organized struggle. “About Dry Grasses” has a hypnotic effect while these discussions are taking place. The deep and story-filled texture of the atmosphere keeps the viewer in an aesthetic universe by revealing the moral themes that lie at the heart of the story.

Let’s move on to another crucial element that makes this movie a masterpiece. The convincing performance of the entire cast, whose roles we witnessed with exquisite realism, enabled the audience to convey emotions from an almost familial place. The biggest source of this penetrating performance is a strong female character that we have never seen before; In a place that paralyzes us with its way of existence. Merve Dizdar’s worryingly real play encourages the audience to try to survive in this universe with exhausted feelings and to find their own essence within narcissistic features. As we face the chilling realities and the disagreements within our hearts, Rumi’s words come to our mind: “Beyond all ideas of right and wrong there is a field I will be meeting you there.”

After a long movie we have food for thought… We invite you to a playlist inspired by the movie: