The Edge of Heaven

The Edge of Heaven, 2007

Director: Fatih Akın, 122’, 35 mm

Cast: Nurgül Yeşilçay, Tuncel Kurtiz, Baki Davrak, Nursel Köse, Hanna Schygulla

Through diverse characters The Edge of Heaven deals with the merging of / conflict between Turkish and German cultures. The film incorporates three stories about differing pasts, points of view, and lifestyles: Widower Ali who is retired meets prostitute Yeter; both have been living in Germany for many years. The film opens with these two people getting close and continues with Ali’s son Nejat trying to find Yeter’s daughter. In the meantime, political activist Ayten has to flee to Germany where she falls in love with a German girl. But she is forced to return to Turkey and ends up in prison because of her affiliation with the political organization and her German girlfriend comes after her to rescue her. The Edge of Heaven is a Fatih Akın film which, with its serene flow and use of long shots, touches on the issues of social constriction and identity seeking but captivates the audience more with its characters than its story.