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Head-On (2004)
"Gegen die Wand" (original title)

7.9
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Ratings: 7.9/10 from 29,157 users   Metascore: 78/100
Reviews: 81 user | 122 critic | 33 from Metacritic.com

In 'Gegen die Wand' Cahit, a 40-something male from Mersin in Turkey has removed everything Turkish from his life. He has become an alcoholic drug addict and at the start of the movie wants... See full summary »

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Title: Head-On (2004)

Head-On (2004) on IMDb 7.9/10

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Cast

Credited cast:
...
...
Catrin Striebeck ...
Maren
...
Selma (Cousine)
Stefan Gebelhoff ...
Nico
Francesco Fiannaca ...
Mann am Tresen
Mona Mur ...
Stammkundin Zoe Bar
...
Patient 1 (Psychiatrie)
...
Patient 2 (Psychiatrie)
Hermann Lause ...
Dr. Schiller
Karin Niwiger ...
Kassiererin (Psychiatrie)
Demir Gökgöl ...
Yunus Güner (Vater)
Cem Akin ...
Yilmaz Güner (Bruder)
Aysel Iscan ...
Birsen Güner (Mutter)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Monique Akin ...
Kundin im Friseurladen
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Storyline

In 'Gegen die Wand' Cahit, a 40-something male from Mersin in Turkey has removed everything Turkish from his life. He has become an alcoholic drug addict and at the start of the movie wants to end it all. Sibel a 20-something female from Hamburg wishes to please her Turkish parents yet yearns for freedom. She has had her nose broken by her brother for being seen holding hands with a boy and yet she can not break her mother's heart and run away. She too attempts suicide and she first approaches Cahit there at the Hospital. Sibel asks Cahit to marry her, as she believes this to be the way out of her parent's house. She promises Cahit that their relationship will be like roommates, not like a married couple. The film follows Sibel and Cahit as they get married, become closer and eventually fall in love. Written by Serena P.

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Genres:

Drama | Romance

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong graphic sexuality, pervasive language, some brutal violence and drug content | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

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Release Date:

11 March 2004 (Germany)  »

Also Known As:

Head-On  »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

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Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The first German film in 17 years to win the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. See more »

Goofs

The psychiatrist at the beginning of the film tells Cahit about a song by the band The The containing the line "If you can't change the world, change your world". The actual quote (from the song "Lonely Planet", included in the album "Dusk") is "If you can't change the world, change yourself". See more »

Quotes

Cahit: I'm sorry I ran off before.
Sibel: That's OK.
Cahit: I'm a mental case, you know?
Sibel: [Kisses Cahit]
See more »

Crazy Credits

When it comes to Special Thanks, there's a name: Arsen Lüpen. Arsène Lupin is a fictional character, created by the French writer Maurice Leblanc. See more »

Connections

Featured in Fatih Akin - Tagebuch eines Filmreisenden (2007) See more »

Soundtracks

"Iag bari"
(K/T: Dan Armeanca)
Performed by Fanfare Ciocarlia (as Fanfare Ciocarla)
With kind permission from Piranha Musik and Fanfare Ciocarla
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
One of the most SINCERE movies I ever seen.
14 March 2004 | by (Istanbul, Turkey) – See all my reviews

As I mentioned in the subject if you ask me to describe this movie only in one word, this word would be SINCERITY, or may be HONESTY.

Turkish people as a conservative society mostly do not get used to approaches towards Turkish culture in this movie by Fatih Akin. He successfully describes the boundaries formed around Sibel originated by her culture in an opposite-culture dominated country Germany. Fatih Akin has a free approach towards the life of Sibel surrounded by the WALLs built by her Turkish origin.

I believe the reason of the free & brave approach in Fatih Akin lies in his free social and cinematographical development as a later generation Turk at Germany. In Turkey, we have no chance to get that approach he has, from our local directors because of legal, social and market dominated factors in local Turkish cinema.

Besides movie tells a love story happened in an environment between, behind, among and surrounded by the WALLs. Sibel marries with an alienated looser man Cahit to break down the WALLs. But she forgot to plan about love. Love damages both of their lives in an unfortunate realistic way.

As a result, Gegen die Wand - Head-on - Duvara Karþý is a must see SINCERE movie by a Turkish director from German cinema.


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Recent Posts
Turkey starts being a part of Europe starting tomorrow ? bittermilk
one the greatest movies I have ever seen in my life! orih77
I think it could have ended after his crash... tomycs
Meeting Cahit in the bus station tim_aylett
Why does Cahit speak English to Selma? paul-mayer
Why English? jolieryoko
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