HEAD ON: The Films of Fatih Akin

Curated with the cooperation of Fatih Akin, this series of 8 films offers an overview of Akin’s work in both feature and documentary film.
 
Fatih Akin is recognized internationally as one of the most outstanding and daring contemporary German filmmakers.
 
Born in Hamburg, to Turkish immigrant parents, Akin draws inspiration from his own experiences and observations when searching for subject matter for his films.  Focusing on the interface between different cultures, and tensions that often arise at this intersection, Akin’s films transcend cultural and geographic borders and seek to open a space for discussion, understanding and community, rather than division. As unconventional and determined as the characters in his films, Akin’s earlier work is recognized for their impulsive, raw, and wild energy: qualities that can still be found in nearly all of his work.
 
The series begins with GEGEN DIE WAND (Head-On, 2004) that helped propel Akin to the forefront of European, German, and International cinema, and is the first chapter of his LOVE, DEATH and DEVIL trilogy that includes AUF DER ANDEREN SEITE (The Edge of Heaven, 2007) and THE CUT (2014) -also presented in this series. Two additional features round out the series: SOUL KITCHEN (2009), an offbeat neighborhood comedy, and TSCHICK (Goodbye Berlin, 2016) an adventurous road movie based on Wolfgang Herrndorf's bestselling 2010 novel.
 
Documentaries include DENK ICH AN DEUTSCHLAND – Wir Haben Vergessen Zurückzukehren (When I think of Germany – We Forgot to Return, 2001), which focuses on the story of his parents immigration to Germany; CROSSING THE BRIDGE –The Sound of Istanbul (2005), in which the German musician, Axel Hacke, explores the Turkish music scene of Istanbul; as well as MÜLL IM GARTEN EDEN (Polluting Paradise, 2012) exposing an environmental scandal in the Turkish village of Çamburnu.
 
Akin’s latest feature AUS DEM NICHTS (In The Fade, 2017), starring Diane Kruger in her first German-language film, has already received several international awards including Best Actress for Diane Kruger at the Cannes Film Festival, as well as Special Prize of the Jury for both Fatih Akin and Diane Kruger at the 2017 BAMBI awards. The film is Germany’s Official Foreign Language Film Oscar® Submission, and has been nominated for Best Motion Picture, Foreign Language at the 2018 GoldenGlobe Awards
 
All films are in German with English Subtitles


$1 validated parking (for events only) on weekdays after 6:00 pm and all day on weekends in the Wilshire Courtyard West underground garage-P1.