Gegen die Wand (Head On) (2004)
Released: March 11, 2004/18 February 2005 Running Time: 122 min. Country: Germany Genre: Romance/Drama/World Cinema Director: Fatih Akin Starring: Birol Unel, Sibel Kekilli, Catrin Striebeck, Guven Kirac, Meltem Cumbul
I have been meaning to watch this film for a few years. It was recommended to me a few times and no matter what I did I always passed it by for some odd reason at the video store. Finally, I decided to rent it, and, like many of my procrastinations it turned out to be great when I finally got around to doing it. This film is sad from beginning to end. Although that would have most people running I think that the best way to describe why you continue watching is that it seduces you with its suffering.
A marriage of convenience that manages to save a man by nearly killing him. A marriage of convenience that helps a young girl run away from her family only to lead a very normal and traditional life by the film’s end. Each is saved in some way by the other but ultimately can never be together. The film is beautifully shot and sheds light on the most comedic and tragic aspects of Turkish culture. The film’s catalyst is a car crash but in essence the film is a constant clash between people, morals, beliefs, circumstances, and choices. It is scored quite magically and the actors are all amazing. The film gels and mixes both the German and Turkish languages quite naturally, but, there is one small bit where English is used by the lead male. It makes for a very interesting play on culture. Whether or not it be a reference to the new lingua franca (if all that new) or if it was purely spawned from a romantic place in the writer/director’s mind it proves to be a very tender and important moment in the film.
I would highly recommend this film and do not suggest you procrastinate as I did. An emotional ride from beginning to end that will move you and challenge you in the most primal and instinctive ways.