Auf der anderen Seite (2007)

Director:

Fatih Akin

Writer:

Fatih Akin (writer)

Release Date:

27 September 2007 (Germany)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A Turkish man travels to Istanbul to find the daughter of his father's former girlfriend.

Plot Keywords:

Turkey | Istanbul | Germany | Death | Prostitute

Awards:

21 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Nurgül Yesilçay	...	Ayten Öztürk aka Gül
Baki Davrak	...	Nejat Aksu
Tuncel Kurtiz	...	Ali Aksu
Hanna Schygulla	...	Susanne Staub
Patrycia Ziolkowska	...	Charlotte 'Lotte' Staub
Nursel Köse	...	Yeter aka Jessy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ali Akdeniz	...	Plainclothes Policeman May 1
Aliye Alioglu	...	Old woman in Camburnu
Asuman Altinay	...	Türkan
Onder Cakar	...	Riza Bey
Erkan Can	...	Nejat's Cousin
Emre Cosar	...	Cengiz
Gengiz Daner	...	Gas station owner
Sevilay Demirci	...	Nurhan
Elcim Eroglu	...	Elcim
Gürsoy Gemec	...	Son of gas station owner
Cigdem Göymen	...	Selen
Nurten Güner	...	Nurten
Faik Hüzmeli	...	Waiter Londra
Ilhan Hüzmeli	...	Waiter Londra
Nadire Irtel	...	Woman in staircase
Nejat Isler	...	Commissioner
Jörg Jänicke	...	ASB
Ömer Kaar	...	Turkish street kid
Salih Kaar	...	Turkish street kid
Yusuf Kaba	...	Flute player
Sileyman Kaplan	...	Arif (as Süleyman 'Sly' Kaplan)
Gökhan Kirac	...	Young Police Officer
Güven Kiraç	...	Security guard
Feridun Koc	...	Security guard
Mert Koc	...	Turkish street kid
Öznur Kula	...	Prisoner
Sule Nayir	...	Prison guard
Stefanie Piehl	...	Policewomen traffic check
Yelda Reynaud	...	Emine
Lars Rudolph	...	Markus Obermüller
Turgay Tanülkü	...	Cem
Andreas Thiel	...	Konsulatsmitarbeiter
Gükce Isil Tuna	...	Prisoner
Annette Uhlen	...	Judge
Idil Üner	...	Doctor
Andreas Westphal	...	Policeman traffic check
Michael Wolf	...	Border Official

Also Known As:

The Edge of Heaven (International: English title) (UK) (USA)
Ai confini del paradiso (Italy)
On the Other Side (International: English title) (literal title)
Yasamin kiyisinda (Turkey: Turkish title)

Runtime:

122 min

Country:

Germany | Turkey | Italy

Language:

German | Turkish | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Germany:12 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Australia:M | UK:15 (re-rating on appeal) | UK:18 (original rating) | France:Unrated | Sweden:15 | Ireland:15A (re-rating on appeal) | Ireland:16 (original rating) | Taiwan:PG-12 | Finland:K-11 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Argentina:13 | South Korea:15 | Japan:PG-12

Filming Locations:

Bremen, Germany

Company:

Anka Film

Trivia:

The role of Ali was written specially for veteran Turkish actor Tuncel Kurtiz.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the Lotte is driving through Bremen, she passes a bus in which Jeter (Jessy) and Baki were sitting after visiting Baki's father in the hospital. The first time we see them sitting in the bus, they are sitting together in the same seat. When Lotte passes the bus, they are sitting opposite of each other.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Fatih Akin - Tagebuch eines Filmreisenden (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Menuet In G Moll, No. 5 Klavierbüchlein für Anna Magdalena

People are more alike than they often realize

Faith Akin, renowned for his energetic movie 'Gegen die Wand', brings another story about the Turkish-German community. The movie focuses on three families who are all connected in some way. In a beautiful way Akin shows the struggle of a Turkish prostitute, a professor of German literature, a young Turkish rebel, a student English and Spanish and a retired widower to find peace and happiness in their lives. Akin manages to avoid the many pitfalls which can lead to clichés. The characters remain just ordinary people with genuine emotions and problems. The movie also depicts the impact of globalization and multiculturalism in nowadays Germany and Turkey. It's the most debated topic of our time. To what extent do we want newcomers to adapt to their new surroundings and to what extent do we accept them to cherish their own cultural heritage. In an even broader perspective, it deals with the clash between the Islamic and western world. 'Auf der anderen Seite', which means on the other side, shows how Turkish immigrants come to love their new country, Germany, without losing their Turkish roots. I think Akin invites us to try and imagine the backgrounds of people, so there will be less misunderstanding. This view is symbolized by Lotte, a German student, who decides to help Ayten, a Turkish political activist who fled Turkey. She doesn't know the Turkish girl but just wants to help her, because the girl has nowhere to go. This quest even brings her to the shores of Istanbul, a city where East meets West in the most literal way.

In the end, 'Auf der anderen Seite' is a story of love and hope which is most endearing and sheds a refreshing light on the global trend of clashing cultures. Any one who is interested in these topics and just loves a very well made movie, ought see this German-Turkish production!