Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul

Delightfully infectious, Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul documents Turkey's astonishingly diverse music scene, which in addition to traditional Kurdish dirges and soulful Romany instrumentals, features musicians fluent in rap, hip-hop, and even punk rock. Director Fatih Akin (Head On) enlists German bassist Alexander Hacke—a colorful character—as a guide (of sorts) who interviews local musicians and takes the viewer on a fascinating tour of the country's exotic musical byways, which combine aspects of both East and West (not surprisingly, since Istanbul literally straddles Europe and Asia), serving up a mellifluous cultural stew for the ears and eyes. Although a native of Germany, Akin was born to Turkish immigrants and his film pulses with the rhythms of his ancestral land. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (E. Hulse)