Turkish-French-German-Swedish feature film, in original language with Hungarian subtitles, 197 minutes, 2023
Directed by: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Written by Akin Aksu, Ebru Ceylan, Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Starring Deniz Celiloglu, Merve Dizdar, Musab Ekici, Ece Bagci
Nuri Bilge Ceylan is one of the most important figures in contemporary European cinema. The Turkish filmmaking giant's films regularly debut at the Cannes International Film Festival, where he has won prizes such as the Grand Jury Prize (Messy, 2003, Once Upon a Time in Anatolia, 2011), Best Director (Three Monkeys, 2008), the FIPRESCI Award and the festival's most prestigious award, the Palme d'Or (A Winter's Dream, 2014).
In his latest picturesque film, Of Withered Grass, the disillusioned Samet (Deniz Celiloglu) teaches in a godforsaken village in the Kurdish-inhabited eastern Anatolia of Turkey. He hopes to rise through the ranks and get a job in Istanbul. His monotonous life is turned upside down by the arrival of an attractive teacher (Merve Dizdar won the Best Actress prize at Cannes for her performance) and a scandal at the school. Their students accuse them of abusing their power.
As usual for Ceylan, About Withered Grass delves into the depths of the human soul, while touching on issues that concern many with great sensitivity.
Age limit: 12 years
Entrance fee: 1500 Ft
Agora Theatre Hall