X
- 2004
- Not Rated
- Big World Pictures
- 1 h 50 m
- 2004
- Not Rated
- Big World Pictures
- 1 h 50 m
Summary A photographer who is haunted by the feeling that the gap between his ideals and his real life is growing finds himself obliged to put up in his apartment a young relative who has left behind his village looking for a job aboard a ship in Istanbul to go abroad.
Directed By: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Written By: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
- 2004
- Not Rated
- Big World Pictures
- 1 h 50 m
- 2004
- Not Rated
- Big World Pictures
- 1 h 50 m
Distant
8.0
Summary A photographer who is haunted by the feeling that the gap between his ideals and his real life is growing finds himself obliged to put up in his apartment a young relative who has left behind his village looking for a job aboard a ship in Istanbul to go abroad.
Directed By: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Written By: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 18 Critic Reviews
84
94% Positive
17 Reviews
17 Reviews
6% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 18 Critic Reviews
84
94% Positive
17 Reviews
17 Reviews
6% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
A Chekhovian tale of major artistic power.
A beautifully made, unapologetically artistic piece of work.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 24 User Ratings
8.0
88% Positive
21 Ratings
21 Ratings
8% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
4% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 24 User Ratings
8.0
88% Positive
21 Ratings
21 Ratings
8% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
4% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
A simple story from Turkish Director Nuri Bilge Ceylon: a man tries to cope with his life in the dismal conditions of an Istanbul winter. He's successful, but unhappy. Beautifully shot. Simplistic in story. Great performances by the cast. A must see for any Ceylon fan, or fan of foreign film.
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When I watch the scenes where both lead roles did the same thing, It reminds me 'life is a cycle' and make me feel like 'this movie is touching the core of reality'. Entire cast is awesome and the theme is vivid. I bet, you will give a honorable position in your mind to the director after watching this movie.
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The compositions are masterful, especially the snow-covered scenes in Istanbul and, most memorably, the spectacle of an overturned ship in the wintry harbor.
If "Starsky & Hutch" is your idea of art, keep your distance from Distant, the droll new movie from maverick Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan. If, on the other hand, you're searching for something that will remain with you long after leaving the theater, run, don't walk, to Distant.
What is most winning about Distant is that it can peer past the grief and find a scrap of comedy. [15 March 2004, p. 154]
Long stretches go by without dialogue or discernible action. But there are significant rewards for those willing to accept the movie's deliberate pace.
The film might be called a moral travelogue. Instead of showing us mosques and tourist spots in beguiling old Istanbul, it follows a couple of ordinary Turkish men in drab surroundings and affirms that they breathe the same doubt-laden air as much of the rest of the world.
A good movie is both enjoyable to watch and a movie that is noticed and stays in the mind. An unpretentious but powerful drama with a unique performance by both main actors, which shows a tactful direction. One of the attractive points of the film is the direction and cinematography. Another good point of the movie is the few dialogues, but appropriate. The film is a story of loneliness and alienation of people in today's life.
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An adventure that begins with a rooster crowing and ends with a mouse shout. The suffocating and gloomy vibe of the early 2000s will be with you throughout the film. A lonely life in the city is accompanied by a short-term guest. The acting is very natural and realistic. Nuri Bilge Ceylan's first film I have seen and I think it will not be the last.
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I first have to say that it is beautifully shot with some truly excellent cinematography. The sound design is quite interesting too, with sounds that would normally be pushed right to the back taking centre stage as the visuals do their work. I thought the performances of the two main characters were excellent but I felt it lacked a bit of direction. The narrative tended to drift along without really finding anything of any substance to bring it to life. Still, I felt it was a worthy effort and worth a look.
SteelMonster’s verdict: RECOMMENDED
My score: 6.7/10
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Production Company
NBC Film
Release Date Mar 12, 2004
Duration 1 h 50 m
Rating Not Rated
Genres
Awards
Turkish Film Critics Association (SIYAD) Awards
• 3 Wins & 7 Nominations
Ankara International Film Festival
• 5 Wins & 5 Nominations
Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival
• 4 Wins & 4 Nominations
