Stars: Muzaffer Ozdemir, Mehmet Emin Toprak

Director: Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Summary: Mahmut is a middle-aged photographer who has been quite successful at isolating himself along with his regrets within the city of Istanbul. His young cousin, Yusuf, arrives in the city in search of work and a place to stay. He's ready for more social interaction than Mahmut is ready for. Turkish language with English subtitles.

Nuri Bilge Ceylan's DISTANT chronicles the numbing loneliness, longing, and isolation in the lives of two men who are consumed by their own problems. Istanbul photographer Mahmut (Muzaffer Ozdemir) reluctantly receives his relative Yusuf (Mehmet Emin Toprak), but the mingling of their lives does little to alleviate their detachment. Mahmut's ex-wife is moving and Mahmut cannot deal with the residue of his feelings for her, and later, he must care for his ill mother. Yusuf unsuccessfully looks for work on a ship in hopes of seeing the world and having money left over for his family, but ends up wandering the city, failing to find the connection and inclusion he seems to desire. Despite a superficial effort by Mahmut to help by offering Yusuf a job on a photo shoot, their already distant relationship devolves into little more than sharing the same space, as neither can find a way to communicate at a deeper level.
Ceylan uses his significant cinematic talents to great effect with long, meditative shots that emphasize a mood of alienation and stagnancy. Wintry Istanbul becomes its own character, as its foreboding weather and stark industrial areas create a physical distance among the characters. Imbued with pathos, this film provides a complex character study that speaks to the need for human connection. Ceylan's cast is comprised of his relatives and friends, all nonprofessional actors, who turn in refined performances. DISTANT won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in 2003.

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Aspect Ratio:	Anamorphic Wide Screen
Main Language:	Turkish
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Nuri Bilge Ceylan Interview, Koza Short Film By Buri Bilge Ceylan, Behind The Scenes Footage, Theatrical Trailer, Filmographies
Subtitles:	English
Year:	2002
Release Date:	September 27, 2004
Runtime:	105 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	A R T 280 D V D
Keywords:	Subtitled, General, Wide, Screen, Drama, Turkish, Uzak
Genre:	Drama