Distance

Living in seclusion from the rest of the world, Daniel Bauer goes about his job as a gardener in the botanical gardens. A rather inconspicuous young man who, however, regularly breaks out of his motionless daily routine and commits indiscriminate acts of violence. When he gets to know Jana, a forlorn young woman, a tentative relationship develops between the two foreign bodies. She sees everything in the shy Daniel that she always wanted from a man. Yet she doesn't have any inkling of his dark side. After a first successful date between Daniel and Jana, the situation escalates. On the morning after the date, he shoots a jogger. A reaction to the beginning love?

Directed by Thomas Sieben, Distance leans on a strong ensemble — Ken Duken, Franziska Weisz, Jan Uplegger — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2010.