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Film details
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Featuring
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Country
Germany
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Year
2003
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Genre
Drama
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Type
Film
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Category
Fiction
Alternative titles
- HEAD-ON Alternative
Introduction
“Akin’s commitment to his characters is uncompromising, as is his humanity, which makes a mockery of the politically correct pieties that often plague stories about cultural outsiders.”
Manohla Dargis, The New York Times, 2005
Fatih Akin was virtually unknown outside Germany when this electrifying drama won the Golden Bear at the Berlin film festival in 2004, before being named Best Film at the 2004 European Film Awards.
Sibel (Sibel Kekilli), who lives with her strict Muslim parents – first-generation immigrants from Turkey – propositions Cahit (Birol Unel), an alcoholic deadbeat 20 years her senior, in order to escape from her family. It is the ultimate marriage of convenience, yet they fall in love.
At first sight, Head-On belongs in a tradition of socially committed films about the plight of immigrant workers, but its potent cocktail of violence, anger, humour and passion, and a dynamic soundtrack that blends hard rock and traditional Turkish music (Akin is a former DJ), keep it well away from genre clichés and predictable sermonising.
R.W. Fassbinder’s Fear Eats the Soul (1974) previously depicted the immigrant community in Germany. Akin’s follow-up The Edge of Heaven (2007) explored the links between Germany’s Turkish community and the old country.
Cast & Credits
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Cast
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Cahit Tomruk
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Sibel Güner
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Maren
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Seref
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Selma, cousin
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waitress at factory
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Nico
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man in bar
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Zoe Bar regular
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psychiatric patient 1
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psychiatric patient 2
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Dr Schiller
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cashier at pyschiatrist's
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Yunus Güner, father
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Yilmaz Güner, son
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Birsen Güner, mother
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bus passenger
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barber
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wedding official
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wedding barman
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customer at hair products store
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man at disco
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Shane
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Sly
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Hatice
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Canan
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Nurcan
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doorman 1
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doorman 2
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thug
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detention centre attendant
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Istanbul barman
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Osman 1
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Osman 2
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Osman 3
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taxi driver
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Bavarian taxi driver
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Pamuk, daughter
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Credits
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Unknown:
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Director
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©/Production Company
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©/In co-production with
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©/In co-production with
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©/In association with
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In association with
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In association with
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In association with
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In association with
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World Sales
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Producer
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Producer
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Co-producer
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Co-producer
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Co-producer
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Commissioning Editor (NDR)
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Commissioning Editor (ARTE)
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Line Producer (Turkish Unit)
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Key Unit Production Manager
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Key Unit Prod'n Manager (Turkish Unit)
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Set Unit Production Manager
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Set Unit Prod'n Manager (Turkish Unit)
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Production Manager
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Production Services in Turkey
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Production Accountant
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Production Accountant (Turkish Unit)
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Location Manager (Turkish Unit)
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Post-production Supervisor
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Artistic Advisor
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Turkish Production Adviser
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Set Trainee
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Assistant Director (1st)
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Assistant Director (2nd)
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Script Supervisor
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Casting
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Screenplay
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Director of Photography
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2nd Unit Photographer
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Chief Lighting Technician
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Stills Photography
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Special Effects
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Editor
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Art Director
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Art Director (Turkish Unit)
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Art Director (Turkish Unit)
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Property Master (Exteriors)
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Property Master (Interiors)
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Costumes
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Make-up
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Make-up
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Title Design
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Opticals
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Colour Timer
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Music
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Music
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Music
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Music
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Music
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Music Consultant
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Sound Design
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Sound Design
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Sound Supervisor
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Sound Recordist
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Sound Mixer
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Post-synchronization
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English Version
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English Version Subtitles
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Fight Choreography
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Stunt Co-ordination
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Stunt Co-ordination
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Acting Coach
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Acting Coach
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Dolby Consultant
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Unit Publicist
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The Greatest Films of All Time 2012
Voted for by 1 critic and 2 directors.