It's the juxtapositional portrayal of the lives of the two fallen second generation Turks, in Germany, grimly depicted by one of the most promising German-born Turkish directors, Fatih Akýn. However, for the discerning viewers it wasn't difficult to notice the resemblances of the cinematography techniques between the Argentine-born French director Gaspar Noé's in his shocking and controversial movie `Irreversible' and Fatih Akýn's `Head On', particularly by his imitation of Noé's flashing stroboscopic lights effects, violent and speeding camera movements, ear-piercing, screeching sound effects and the notorious scene in his movie.
Sibel Kekilli, the leading actress, who has contributed to the publicity of the movie by her recently revealed porn star history as well as casted a shadow over the movies overall success of winning the Berlin International Film Festival's Golden Bear Trophy.
Birol Unel who played Cahit, a loser, a drunkard, a doper living in a two-bit life, riding on the fast lane has reminded me of the edgy, convincing and charismatic performances of the great actor Willem Dafoe and for my opinion Unel was the true savior with his powerful acting performance.
There were also some minor holes in the plot, like unrealistic portrayal of the Sibel's family's oppression and fundamentalism to justify her despair, especially the mother figure shakes the integrity of the plot.
Head On's mesmerizing scores, ranging from the punk-rock, jazz and the new age to the eastern vocal ethnic elegies and the oriental tunes of the Turkish traditional music, from such artists like the British Depeche Mode with their many German and Turkish counterparts, not only underlined the culture clash between the East and the West, but made this movie a true feast for our ears.
Needless to say, despite of its flaws, this movie still shines as a masterpiece of Turkish Cinema with its unique universal storytelling of Fatih Akin, who has all the inventories of the prominent directors of the Western Cinema, but undoubtedly this movie proved us that he had even more.
Sibel Kekilli, the leading actress, who has contributed to the publicity of the movie by her recently revealed porn star history as well as casted a shadow over the movies overall success of winning the Berlin International Film Festival's Golden Bear Trophy.
Birol Unel who played Cahit, a loser, a drunkard, a doper living in a two-bit life, riding on the fast lane has reminded me of the edgy, convincing and charismatic performances of the great actor Willem Dafoe and for my opinion Unel was the true savior with his powerful acting performance.
There were also some minor holes in the plot, like unrealistic portrayal of the Sibel's family's oppression and fundamentalism to justify her despair, especially the mother figure shakes the integrity of the plot.
Head On's mesmerizing scores, ranging from the punk-rock, jazz and the new age to the eastern vocal ethnic elegies and the oriental tunes of the Turkish traditional music, from such artists like the British Depeche Mode with their many German and Turkish counterparts, not only underlined the culture clash between the East and the West, but made this movie a true feast for our ears.
Needless to say, despite of its flaws, this movie still shines as a masterpiece of Turkish Cinema with its unique universal storytelling of Fatih Akin, who has all the inventories of the prominent directors of the Western Cinema, but undoubtedly this movie proved us that he had even more.