No, this isn’t a film about the former Texas politician. Beyto explores issues of sexual identity, the immigrant experience, and family turmoil. It is a striking film and one that’s (unfortunately) relatable.
Beyto (Burak Ates) is the son of Turkish immigrants. Living in Switzerland, Beyto is an accomplished swimmer who also is coming to terms with his own sexuality. As he finds love with his coach Mike (Dimitri Stapfer), Beyto’s family’s strict views on homosexuality force him to keep his sexual proclivities a secret.
Try as he might, his family soon discovers that Beyto was spotted at a Gay Pride rally and go to extreme lengths to conceal it. And by extreme lengths, they arrange an entire marriage. Beyto is to be wed to Narin (Beren Tuna), a softspoken girl from Beyto’s old Turkish village. To make it worse, Beyto has no idea the wedding is even happening until he reaches the village, and by then it’s too late to do anything about it without harming his or Narin’s reputation.
The film, while hinging on a somewhat implausible and over-the-top plot point, will strike a chord with anyone struggling with any aspect of their identity. Ates shines as the troubled Beyto, who tries to appease not only his new wife but his family’s wishes as well. Beyto can be seen as childish going into the arranged marriage, but audiences can hardly blame him. Recommended as a unique addition to LGBTQ library programming.
Discover more titles for your film collection in our list of LGBTQ movies.