Quick Facts
| Title | Type | Genre | Release Date | Composer | Status (as of Aug 2026) | Where to Watch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| About Dry Grasses | Movie | Drama | May 19, 2023 (Cannes); February 23, 2024 (U.S.) | No original score composer publicly credited | Released; available on home video and streaming | Criterion Channel, digital rental (Janus Films / Sideshow) |
About Dry Grasses (Turkish: Kuru Otlar Üstüne) is a 2023 Turkish-language drama film directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan and co-written by Ceylan, Ebru Ceylan, and Akın Aksu. The film premiered in the main competition at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, where star Merve Dizdar won the Best Actress award, and it later served as Turkey’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards (it was not nominated).
Starring Deniz Celiloğlu, Merve Dizdar, and Musab Ekici, the film follows a teacher working in a remote village in rural Eastern Anatolia who hopes to be transferred to Istanbul, and whose plans are upended when he and a colleague are accused of inappropriate conduct by two students.
Official Synopsis: A young teacher hopes to be transferred to Istanbul after four years of mandatory service in a remote village but is accused of inappropriate contact by two students. After losing hope, a colleague offers him new perspectives on life. (From IMDb)
Release date: The film premiered at Cannes on May 19, 2023, opened in Turkey on September 29, 2023, and was released in U.S. theaters by Sideshow and Janus Films on February 23, 2024.
Genre: Drama
Who Composed the About Dry Grasses Score?
Unlike many of the films we cover, About Dry Grasses does not have a widely publicized original-score composer credit. Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s dialogue-heavy dramas (including previous films like The Wild Pear Tree and Winter Sleep) are known for leaning on ambient sound, silence, and occasional pieces of existing classical or folk music rather than a commissioned original score, and About Dry Grasses follows that same minimalist approach. We have not been able to independently verify a specific credited film composer for this title, so rather than repeat an unverified name, we’re noting that honestly here. If an official score credit is confirmed, we’ll update this page.
You can watch the film via Janus Films/Sideshow’s theatrical and digital releases, or stream it on the Criterion Channel, where it’s part of the Criterion Collection catalog. Availability on Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music for a standalone soundtrack album has not been confirmed, which is consistent with the film not having a commercially released score.
Official Trailer: You can watch the trailer below for a glimpse of the story and cast.
Cast
Deniz Celiloğlu as Samet, Merve Dizdar as Nuray, Musab Ekici as Kenan, Ece Bağcı as Sevim, Erdem Şenocak as Tolga, Yüksel Aksu as Vahit, Münir Can Cindoruk as Feyyaz, Onur Berk Arslanoğlu as Bekir, and Yıldırım Gücük as the Director of Education.
Other cast members include Cengiz Bozkurt as Nail, S. Emrah Özdemir as Sergeant, Elif Ürse as Assistant Principal Saime, Elit Andaç Çam as Firdevs, Nalan Kuruçim as Kevser, Ferhat Akgün as Guidance Counselor Atakan, and Eylem Canpolat as Halime.
- Runtime: 3h 17m (197 minutes)
- Distributor: Sideshow / Janus Films (U.S.)
- Production Companies: NBC Film, Memento Production, Komplizen Film
- Language: Turkish
Critically, About Dry Grasses was very well received: it holds a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes (based on 71 critic reviews) and a Metacritic score of 88/100, indicating “universal acclaim.” Merve Dizdar’s Best Actress win at Cannes remains one of the film’s most-cited achievements, and the film has since become part of the Criterion Collection.
(External link: Rotten Tomatoes)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct English title of this film?
The film’s English title is About Dry Grasses. Its original Turkish title is Kuru Otlar Üstüne, which translates literally to “About Dry Grasses” or “Upon Dry Grasses.” “About Hay” is not an accurate translation of the title.
Who composed the score for About Dry Grasses?
No original-score composer is widely credited for the film. Like several of Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s other films, About Dry Grasses relies primarily on ambient sound and minimal use of music rather than a commissioned score, and we have not found independently verifiable evidence of a specific composer credit.
Who directs and stars in About Dry Grasses?
The film is directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan and stars Deniz Celiloğlu, Merve Dizdar, and Musab Ekici. Ceylan co-wrote the screenplay with his wife Ebru Ceylan and Akın Aksu.
Where can I watch About Dry Grasses?
About Dry Grasses is available to stream on the Criterion Channel and for digital rental/purchase through Janus Films/Sideshow’s release partners, following its U.S. theatrical run.
Did About Dry Grasses win any awards?
Yes. Merve Dizdar won the Best Actress award at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival for her role in the film, and About Dry Grasses was selected as Turkey’s official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards, though it was not nominated.
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