Uzak

This is a Turkish film made in 2002 by Nuri Bilge Ceylan.

Someone once told me that they're irritated when people over-analyse things. These beliefs are then stated as facts. I looked on wikipedia, IMDb, and other reviews of the film. On IMDb there's a great post of some guy saying "THIS IS ABSOLUTE CRUD". Makes me laugh how these people probably pick up these films in the first place.

This isn't the 'greatest' film. I don't really know what constitutes towards 'greatness' any more. There are millions of emotions you can portray, and millions of ways of doing so. I think the cinematography was very good, which makes sense -- says the director is a photographer as well.

The film's about some guy who lost in job, goes to live with his uncle or something in the capital. They don't really get on. How many films have been made about this boring domestic issue? Loads. This film has about 100 words in all, and pretty much portrays a really emotionless guy. One word: alienation. And not Catcher In The Rye teenage type stuff, either. I suppose it's the middle-age type of alienation, but this guy seems to be addicted to it.

There's not much in the viewing storywise. That's not a bad thing, I'm referring to how it portrayed this pretty lifeless guy. Some reviewers go on about the urbanisation of the capital, the differences between the two and really drag out a film that you can't really elaborate on.

Nephew from rural-ish area goes to live with uncle in capital. Nephew isn't very intelligent, wants a job as a sailor. Uncle is emotionless, pretends to like Tarkovsky films (he's watching Stalker!). Has an ex-wife. Doesn't really care about her. Doesn't care about anything. If you can tell me why from the 25 words he said in the film and the same gloomy look he had, and sitting around on a bench in certain scenes with rubbish blowing around -- feel free. Doesn't mean you're right. Tell us more about the camera work or something, rather than a character and a "profound-plot-that-symbolises-xyz" you've made up in your head. Is it bad for a film review to classify itself as an opinion rather than 100% fact?

The film translates into "Distant" -- so let it be.