HEAD ON: The Films of Fatih Akin
Germany 2003/2004, 121 min., German (with English subtitles)
Writer-Director: Fatih Akin, Cinematography: Rainer Klausmann, Editor: Andrew Bird, Music: Alexander Hacke, Producers: Ralph Schwingel, Stefan Schubert, Starring: Birol Ünel, Sibel Kekilli, Catrin Striebeck, Güven Kirac, Meltem Cumbul
Akin’s internationally acclaimed breakthrough film focuses on the turbulent relationship between two unlikely lovers. Cahit (Ünel), a 40 year-old Turkish-born German, is a cynical alcoholic tormented by his past. Sibel (Kekilli) is a young, rebellious Turkish-German woman desperate to break free from her devout, conservative family. Following their respective suicide attempts, they meet in a psychiatric hospital and an unlikely friendship develops. Believing that a marriage of convenience is her last chance at freedom, Sibel proposes that the two marry, and Cahit reluctantly agrees.
The new couple’s life together begins as little more than a charade; Sibel enjoys her new-found freedom as well as the men, drugs and partying that come along with it, while Cahit returns to his self-destructive lifestyle. However, when the two independently discover that they do indeed love each other, an unexpected tragedy separates them.
HEAD ON is the first chapter of Fatih Akin’s LOVE, DEATH and DEVIL trilogy, and is presented at the Goethe-Institut as part of a 7 film series HEAD ON: The Films of Fatih Akin.
THE EDGE OF HEAVEN and THE CUT, also presented in this series complete the trilogy.
SELECT AWARDS AND FESTIVALS:
Bodil Awards 2005
Best Non-American Film
European Film Awards 2004
Best European Director (Audience Award), Best European Film
Film+ 2004
Editing Award
Bambi Awards 2004
Shooting Star: Sibel Kekilli
German Camera Award 2004
Feature Film
German Film Awards 2004
Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Cinematography, Best Direction, Outstanding Feature Film
Berlin International Film Festival 2004
FIPRESCI Prize, Golden Berlin Bear for Fatih Akin
Brothers Manaki International Film Festival 2004
Golden Camera 300
Goya Awards 2005
Best European Film
Mexico City International Contemporary Film Festival 2005
Best Narrative Feature Director
National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA 2006
Best Foreign Language Film
New Faces Awards, Germany 2004
New Faces Awards for Sibel Kekilli, Actress
Nuremberg Film Festival “Turkey-Germany” 2004
Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Film
Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2005
Special Jury Award: International Film for best performance by an actress
Seville European Film Festival 2004
Audience Award Best Film for Fatih Akin
Undine Awards, Austria 2004
Best Young Actress - Film
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