Like his earlier highly acclaimed film Head-On, writer-director Fatih Akin's The Edge of Heaven is a powerful and poignant ensemble drama that appears to deal specifically with the tension between Turks and Germans in today's changing Europe, while actually exploring the vagaries of human relationships across all borders, national and personal. Ali (Tuncel Kurtiz), an elderly émigré living in Germany, chooses a Turkish prostitute named Yeter (Nursel Köse) to become his live-in girlfriend, but later accidentally kills her in a fit of rage. Ali's son Nejat (Baki Davrak), a professor of German literature, returns to Turkey to look for Yeter's daughter Ayten (Nurgül Yesilcay), to offer some financial recompense for the loss of her mother. But Ayten, a political activist, has been forced by a government crackdown to flee to Germany, where she's taken in by a local student named Lotte (Patrycia Ziolkowska), until she's arrested and deported back to Turkey to stand trial. A sudden tragedy brings all of the characters—including Lotte's mother (Hanna Schygulla)—together in what might turn out to be a beginning step toward mutual understanding and support. While the plot features a high level of coincidence, Akin presents the story skillfully—aided by fine acting and evocative locations—demonstrating a maturity in both style and content that heralds the arrival of a true artist. Highly recommended. (F. Swietek)
The Edge of Heaven
Strand, 116 min., in English, German & Turkish w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $27.99, Oct. 14 Volume 23, Issue 6
The Edge of Heaven
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