Uzak (2002)

Director:

Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Writer:

Nuri Bilge Ceylan (writer)

Release Date:

20 December 2002 (Turkey)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Mahmut, a 40 year old independent photographer, is a "village boy made good" at least professionally in the big city - Istanbul in this case...

Plot Keywords:

Istanbul | Car | Turkey | Beer | Tragedy

Awards:

18 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Muzaffer Özdemir	...	Mahmut
Emin Toprak	...	Yusuf
Zuhal Gencer	...	Nazan (as Zuhal Gencer Erkaya)
Nazan Kirilmis	...	Lover
Feridun Koc	...	Janitor
Fatma Ceylan	...	Mother
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Arif Asçi
Nazli Aydin
Ahmet Bugay
Ebru Ceylan		(as Ebru Yapici)
Ayhan Ergürsel
Erhan Ersoy
Cemal Gülas
Engin Hepsev
Ercan Kesal
Hakan Kuldan
Asli Orhun
Ahmet Özyurt
Bahaltin Surler

Directed by
Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Nuri Bilge Ceylan		writer

Produced by
Nuri Bilge Ceylan	....	producer
Feridun Koc	....	line producer

Cinematography by
Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Film Editing by
Ayhan Ergürsel

Production Design by
Ebru Ceylan		(as Ebru Yapici)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Serkan Cindoruk	....	second assistant director

Sound Department
Ismail Karadas	....	sound

Production Companies

• NBC Ajans
• NBC Film

Distributors

• Filmcoopi Zürich (2003) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Lady Film (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Mirada Distribution (2009) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Artificial Eye (2004) (UK) (all media)
• Mongrel Media (2004) (Canada) (all media)
• New Yorker Films (2004) (USA) (subtitled)
• Pelicanfilms (2004) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Özen Film

Also Known As:

Distant (International: English title)

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

Turkey

Language:

Turkish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Hungary:14 | South Korea:15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Argentina:13 | Italy:T

Filming Locations:

Istanbul, Turkey

Company:

NBC Ajans

Trivia:

At the Cannes Film Festival 2003, the best actor award was given to both of the leading actors in the film, 'Mehmet Emin Toprak' (Yusuf) and 'Muzaffer Ozdemir' (Mahmut). Toprak was unable to receive his award because he had died in a car accident not long after he learned that he was nominated.

Movie Connections:

Features Koza (1995)

Not the Tourist's Istanbul

Uzak (2002), a Turkish film shown in the U.S. as "Distant,"

was directed, produced, written, and filmed by Nuri Bilge

Ceylan.

This movie is a gritty and somber version of the clash between a "city mouse," Mahmut, played by Muzaffer Özdemir, and a "country mouse," Yusuf, played by Emin Toprak.

Both men are superb actors, and the plot allows them to demonstrate their acting skill. (Tragically, Emin Toprak died in an automobile accident shortly after the movie was completed.)

In most country cousin/city cousin tales, the contrast between rural and urban life styles is portrayed in a humorous fashion. In this film, there's little humor or even warmth. Both men

have lost touch with human society. Mahmut 's work as a

commercial photographer for a tile company gives him no satisfaction. He has divorced a woman he clearly

still loves, and has no satisfying human relationships.

Mahmut has lost his job because of a factory closing in his small town, and doesn't have the skills or the energy to find work in the city. His human interactions are primarily confined to silent observations of the other people who cross his path. He's clearly a warm and caring person, but can't express these qualities in an urban environment.

The cousins don't relate well to the world, and they don't relate well to each other. Neither makes an effort to act in a way that would provide an opportunity for bonding or closeness.

In a sense, this film portrays an opportunity wasted.

Conceivably, each cousin could have provided at least part of what was lacking in the other's life. Instead, they steer parallel unhappy courses. The two men are distant throughout, which is a situation suggested by the film's title.

One of my friends mentioned the masterful way in which Ceylan builds detail upon detail. These details ultimately tell us more about the characters than we might have learned by simple exposition.

Uzak was shown as part of the Rochester Labor Film series. It's not a "labor film" in the traditional sense of that genre. It is a labor film because it demonstrates the harmful effects of unsatisfying work (Mahmut) and unemployment (Yusuf).

This is a quiet, absorbing, dark film. Although it doesn't make for happy viewing, I walked out of the

theater realizing that I had seen a truly creative and

important movie. This film is worth finding and seeing!