# Distant (2002) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/uzak-2002/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-25

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 85% |
| Critic Score | 94% |
| Audience Score | 88% |
| Metascore | 84/100 |
| Letterboxd | 4.1/5 |
| IMDb | 7.5/10 |
| Director | Nuri Bilge Ceylan |
| Genres | Drama |
| Runtime | 106 min |
| Festival premiere | Antalya 2002 (Golden Orange for Best Film) |

## Quick answer

Distant (2002) earns a 85% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s quiet Istanbul drama won Antalya’s Golden Orange for Best Film — the breakthrough that put contempor Metascore 84/100. Directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan.

## Critics consensus

Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s quiet Istanbul drama won Antalya’s Golden Orange for Best Film — the breakthrough that put contemporary Turkish art cinema on the world map.

## Synopsis

A young man from rural Turkey arrives in Istanbul with dreams of working on a ship and stays with a cousin while he searches for work. Over time, the former’s struggles to find employment and the latter’s troubles and disappointments strain their relationship and living situation.

## Cast

Muzaffer Özdemir, Mehmet Emin Toprak, Zuhal Gencer, Nazan Kesal, Feridun Koç, Fatma Ceylan, Ebru Ceylan, Bahattin Serter, Nazlı Aydın, Engin Hepsev

## Accolades

Premiered at Antalya 2002, where it won the Golden Orange for Best Film.

## Where to watch

Turkey: TV+, HBO Max

## Critic reviews on Celluloid: 1

## Common questions

**Is Distant worth watching?**
Distant holds a 85% Celluloid Score. Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s quiet Istanbul drama won Antalya’s Golden Orange for Best Film — the breakthrough that put contemporary Turkish art cinema on the world map.

**What is Distant about?**
A young man from rural Turkey arrives in Istanbul with dreams of working on a ship and stays with a cousin while he searches for work. Over time, the former’s struggles to find employment and the latter’s troubles and disappointments strain their relationship and living situation.

**Who directed Distant?**
Distant (2002) was directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan.

**What is the Celluloid Score of Distant?**
85% — the average of five public sources: critics 94%, audience 88%, Metascore 84/100, Letterboxd 4.1/5, and IMDb 7.5/10.

**Where can I watch Distant?**
Distant is on TV+, HBO Max in Turkey. Availability varies by region.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

Markdown mirror: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/uzak-2002.md