Distant tells the story of a middle-aged photographer Mahmut, who is obliged to put up in his Istanbul apartment his unemployed young cousin Yusuf, who has left his home village in search of work, haunted by the feeling that the gap between his life and his ideals is growing. Mahmut grows increasingly irritated by his provincial young relative’s encroachment into his closed and colorless world.

With great wit and subtlety, Distant explores the isolation of city life and features outstanding performance from Muzaffer Özdemir as Mahmut and Mehmet Emin Toprak as Yusuf. Tragically, Toprak was killed in a car accident shortly after completion of filming: he posthumously won the Best Actor prize at Cannes in 2003. 

Awards:

2004    Time Out Critic's poll (UK) - Best Film of the year
2004    Durban Int. Film Festival, South Africa - Special Jury Prize
2004    Trieste Film Festival, Italy - Premio Trieste (for Best Film)
2004    Film Festival of Mexico City - Best Director and Best Cinematography
2004    Singapore International Film Festival - Best Film; Best Director; Best Actor: Mehmet Emin Toprak
2003    Cannes Film Festival - Grand Prix du Jury; Best Actor : Muzaffer Özdemir and Mehmet Emin Toprak
2003    Chicago Film Festival, USA - Silver Hugo
2003    Cinemaya Film Festival, India - Best Film
2003    Cinemanila Film Festival, Philippines - Lino Brocka Award : Grand Prize for Best Film
2003    Film Camera Festival MANAKI BROTHERS, Macedonia - Special Jury Prize (as DoP)
2003    Mid East Film Festival, Beirut - Best Film; Best Screenplay
2003    Montpellier Film Festival, France - Golden Antigone (for Best Film); Critics' Prize

www.nbcfilm.com/uzak