Space in cinema is considered not only as a physical setting but also as a crucial element that reflects the inner worlds of characters, deepens the narrative, and shapes the viewer’s relationship with the film. Especially in rural cinema, space becomes one of the fundamental components of the narrative by being associated with characters’ feelings of loneliness, entrapment, and belonging. Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s cinema treats rural settings not merely as geographical locations but as narrative spaces that reflect existential conflicts and the tense relationship between individuals and society. In this context, About Dry Grasses (2023) delves into the tense relationship between the individual and the rural environment, positioning the rural landscape not just as a backdrop but as an essential element at the heart of the narrative.In this study, the spatial use in the film is examined using descriptive analysis and semiotic analysis methods. While descriptive analysis reveals how spatial elements are structured in the film, semiotic analysis aims to uncover the symbolic and metaphorical meanings of space within the narrative. The findings indicate that space in the film functions not merely as a background element but as an integral component of the narrative. The feelings of entrapment, loneliness, and existential questioning experienced by the characters in the rural setting are reinforced through wide-angle shots, long takes, and the use of natural lighting. In the film, the metaphors of snow and the steppe reflect the emptiness and isolation of the characters’ inner worlds, while the claustrophobic atmosphere of interior scenes highlights the oppressive nature of the rural environment on the individual.
Keywords: Rural cinema, cinematography, narrative function of space, nuri bilge ceylan’s cinema