In a remarkable turn of events, Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s latest cinematic masterpiece, “Kuru Otlar Üstüne,” has set a new record for the esteemed director. The film, which secured Merve Dizdar the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival and was chosen as Turkey’s official entry for the Oscars, has achieved the best opening in Ceylan’s illustrious filmography.
“Kuru Otlar Üstüne,” which made its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, captivated audiences with its compelling narrative. In its opening weekend on September 29th, the film was watched by an impressive 70,157 viewers, as reported by Box Office Türkiye. Notably, the Turkish premiere took place just a week before at the 30th Adana Altın Koza Film Festival.
The film stars a talented ensemble cast including Deniz Celiloğlu, Merve Dizdar, Musab Ekici, and Ece Bağcı. It tells the gripping story of a teacher, eagerly anticipating his return to Istanbul after completing his duty in the east, who finds himself accused of harassment by one of his students.
Before the remarkable 70,000-strong opening of “Kuru Otlar Üstüne,” Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s previous record-holder for the best opening was “Ahlat Ağacı,” which garnered 47,000 viewers. “Ahlat Ağacı” went on to amass a total of 246,766 viewers. Following closely was “Kış Uykusu,” which opened with 43,000 viewers and concluded its journey with 304,782 viewers.
Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s Palme d’Or-winning masterpiece, “Kış Uykusu,” still holds the title of his most-watched film. With accolades pouring in from critics and audiences alike, the final viewer count for “Kuru Otlar Üstüne” remains a subject of eager anticipation.