Kebab Connection (2004)

Director:

Anno Saul

Writers:

Fatih Akin (writer) &
Ruth Toma (writer) ...

Release Date:

21 April 2005 (Germany)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Romance

Plot:

In Hamburg, Ibrahim "Ibo" Secmez, of Turkish descent, wants to direct the first German kung-fu movie...

Plot Keywords:

German | Kebab | Turkish | Restaurant | Actress

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Emanuel Bettencourt	...	Sifu
Numan Acar	...	Schwertkämpfer
Nora Tschirner	...	Titzi
Hasan Ali Mete	...	Onkel Ahmet
Kida Khodr Ramadan	...	Özgür (as Kida Ramadan)
Denis Moschitto	...	Ibo
Paul Faßnacht	...	Filmproduzent
Phillip José Steinfatt	...	Typ auf der Strasse / Boss Gangster
Andrea Paula Paul	...	Nadine (as Paula Paul)
Badasar Colbiyik	...	Montana
Cem Akin	...	Altan
Hakan Orbeyi	...	Kerem
Ernest Hausmann	...	Kiffer im Auto
Carmen Rüter	...	Filmstudentin
Ferhad Kara	...	Reporter

Also Known As:

Keb It Up (Germany) (working title)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

Germany

Language:

Greek | Turkish | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Hong Kong:IIA | Singapore:NC-16 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | Netherlands:12 | Hungary:14 | Sweden:11 | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Der Spiegel Publishing House cafeteria, Altstadt, Hamburg, Germany

Company:

Arte

Movie Connections:

References Apocalypse Now (1979)

Impressive Achievement

When fate is friendly, it makes the impossible possible. Like, what was the probability of some random Romanian movie fan of ever seeing a German film about the Turkish "speciality", Döners? And what is even more amazing, what were the chances of this film actually being a great watch?

The "Kebab Connection" deals with a couple - Turkish boy, German girl - who are about to have a baby and are trying to get back together. But in the whole mix, you've got tradition, family values, a Kebab shop and a Greek "taverna", kung fu and William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In a way, the film is a modern R&J...but it would, paradoxically, be unfair to label it only as such, as it is much more. More than an amusing get-together of events and characters and more than a social satire. It's a film with soul and, most importantly, it's original an authentic in both storyline and plot as well as "presentation". In addition to this, the characters are extremely likable, although they aren't always played at what I felt could have been their maximum potential. But ultimately that doesn't even matter.

Because with all these elements cleverly and humorously brought together, the "Kebab Connection" may well be a small milestone in German comedy. It's worthy all the way. If it hadn't been, what would that say about faith?