Fatih Akin!

9/19/07

The Edge of Heaven
Written and directed by Fatih Akin

TVOR was in Toronto at the tail end of the Toronto International Film Festival and actually made it to a screening. This was not easy, as Fatih Akin's The Edge of Heaven, the movie she selected, was a very hot ticket. Fortunately, it was worth it. The film is the fifth feature by Akin, and this guy is good--and only 34 years old. The Edge of Heaven tells the stories of a number of German and Turkish characters whose lives intersect and intertwine in both countries. The film's themes of forgiveness, redemption, and grace are beautifully expressed and TVOR thought this was a pretty swell movie.

At this point The Edge of Heaven does not have distribution in the U.S., but if there is any justice in the world, it will soon.

Video notes:

Fortunately, a few of Fatih Akin's earlier works are available on DVD, and TVOR has seen a couple, which she highly recommends. Both films have Turkish and German characters and locations. In July, made in 2000, is a lovely road movie, a different take on the genre. Head-On, made in 2004, is a gritty story of two immigrants who meet and marry, mostly so the young woman can escape her traditional Turkish family. These films share a sense of optimism with The Edge of Heaven, and even though bad things sometimes happen, there is a sense of hope at the end of the road.

This guy has the goods. He should be big.