Head-On (2004)

Head-On, Fatih Akin's gritty drama, is like a great punk-rock song-- rough around the edges, but filled with heart. Cahit (Birol Ünel) is a middle-aged drunk whose apartment looks like the toilet in Trainspotting. Sibel (Sibel Kekilli) is a suicidal woman half his age, stuck at home with repressive relatives. They're two troubled Turks, adrift in Germany. A chance encounter at a psychiatric hospital represents a way out. If Cahit will marry her, Sibel can flee her family. They'll accept him, because he's Turkish. As for Cahit, he won't be alone anymore, left to mourn his dead wife and drink his life away. At first, things go as planned. Sibel moves into Cahit's dump and spiffs it up. The two live, eat, and party together, while continuing to see other people. Gradually, their marriage of convenience starts to resemble the real thing--until Cahit's violent tendencies get the best of him. --Kathleen C. Fennessy Amazon.com

Immigrant drama looks like Turkish remake of Sid and Nancy

This fierce drama about the doomed love of two Turkish immigrants in Germany looks like an Ottoman remake of Sid and Nancy. Punctuated by the songs of a female singer and her band in Istanbul, it tells the story of Cahit (Birol Unel) a middle aged drunk and widower who has just attempted suicide by crashing his car into a wall head on (hence the title). In a hospital ward in Hamburg he meets the twenty one years old Sibel (nicely performed by porn actress Sibel Kekilli), and they soon agree to a fake, sexless marriage in order that she can escape her conservative family. While they both initially agree that this will be a marriage of convenience, hot tempered Cahit will eventually be unable to stand the jealousy caused by Sibel's promiscuous life. A violent tragedy will soon ensue. Another great film about the difficulties and alienation faced by immigrants in Europe. January 19, 2008

Edgy, Real, Superb

This was a suberb movie. At Germany's equivalent of the Oscar's it won every major prize, including best movie and actor. Once you see this movie, you'll understand why. It's a rollercoaster from start to finish with such real, flawed characters. The performances are some of the best ever and the story is so heartbreaking. These are people you just keep cheering for and cheering for even as they are screwing up their lives. I recommend this movie to anyone who likes foreign films. Even if you don't like subtitles, this is one to check out. August 16, 2007

Head-On

This is the best Foreign language film I have ever seen. The director/writer uses characters who may be bi-polar to accentuate the differnces between our Western culture and the Near Islamic East. This turns into one of the most beautiful tugs of war ever portrayed on film. This film has made me appreciate the Turkish culture and Turkey as the place where "East Meets West". July 17, 2007

Top film

Great film, pity amazon didnt leave us much to say about it after their review but hear goes.

Wouldnt realy describe it a 'punk rock' apart from Cahits vague connection with punk music this is a great little insight into life of Turks in Germany. Two people both going their own way in life come together by chance but both have more baggage than they originally thought.

Cahit with his sadly passed away wife who he still morns and Sibel with her 'conservative' family who are filled with their own contradictions (My favorite scene is when Cahit is playing cards with Sibels brother and a few others, while they are sitting chatting about how they sleep with prostitutes behind their wives backs and the pros and cons of various women of differing nationalities Cahit shouts out "why dont you go and f*** your own wives? Sibels brother of course is outraged at intimacy between him and his wife being discussed)

As their marriage of convenience spirals out of control with Sibel continuing to sleep around and Cahit begining more and more to feel something for her it comes to a horrific conclusion resulting in Cahit being jailed and Sibel returning to Turkey.

Some wonderful scenes in Turkey such as when Sibel goes into a cafe and sits next to two young men chatting amongst themselves; first there is the shock from the both of them that she should come and sit next to a strange man then her question "You know where I can get any drugs" Their reply "Are you mad or something girl" Just sums up the cultural gulf between Sibels hedonistic life in Germany and even the most secular of Turks who still leads a reasonably respectable life.

There is just so much that this film captures of life both in Germany and Turkey of young people living there and the contradictions they encounter.

Recomended film.

By the way; its called "Against the Wall" In Turkish. In my opinion a far better title than "Head On" July 3, 2007

Are You Turkish? Well, yes I am!

Am I the only Turk who has reviewed this film? I surely hope not. It has taken me ages to finally rent this. I am extremely depressed right now but it was well worth it. Please, don't classify this as a German movie. Let this be a Turkish movie. It was nicely done, a bit predictable at times but no big deal. The acting was above expectations. As for the story line, believable enough. I found it ironic that the heroine Sibel needs to marry a Turkish guy in order to get peace from her family according to the plot (which is very believable, mind you) but that in reality she used to be a porn star before this film.

As a minor negative, the Turkish being spoken was whiny and got on my nerves quite a bit. To their defense, I have been away from my precious homeland for almost 10 years now and for all I know, this could be the way modern Turkish is being spoken right now.
May 21, 2007

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