Head-On (2004)

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121 min - Drama | Romance - 11 March 2004 (Germany)

8.0

Ratings: 8.0/10 from 21,841 users Metascore: 78/100
Reviews: 76 user | 116 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... See full summary »

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Cast

Credited cast:
	Birol Ünel	...	Cahit Tomruk
	Sibel Kekilli	...	Sibel
	Catrin Striebeck	...	Maren
	Meltem Cumbul	...	Selma (Cousine)
	Stefan Gebelhoff	...	Nico
	Francesco Fiannaca	...	Mann am Tresen
	Mona Mur	...	Stammkundin Zoe Bar
	Ralph Misske	...	Patient 1 (Psychiatrie)
	Philipp Baltus	...	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

Full cast and crew »

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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

Plot Keywords:

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:

Add content advisory for parents »

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Germany] | Add/edit official sites »

Country:

Germany | Turkey

Language:

German | Turkish | English

Release Date:

11 March 2004 (Germany) See more »

Also Known As:

Contra la pared See more »

Filming Locations:

Fabrik, Altona, Hamburg, Germany See more »

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

€24,264 (Netherlands) (5 September 2004) (19 Screens)

Gross:

€432,956 (Italy) (31 October 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arte, Bavaria Film International, Corazón International See more »

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

See full technical specs »

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Birol Ünel had not been in military service in Turkey and therefore could not travel to Turkey without being arrested. However, as they say on DVD, at the last minute Turkish parliament decided on an amnesty, so he could return to his home country for the first time after 10 years and finish the movie. See more »

Goofs

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): 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

Sibel: Cahit! I'm getting laid!
Cahit: [looking at Sibel and then the guy]
Sibel: Did you see the guy?
See more »

Connections

Featured in 2006 Independent Spirit Awards (2006) See more »

Soundtracks

"Alma Ahimi"
(K/T: Cavidan Balci, Unal Yuksel)
Performed by Orientation
With kind permission from Rolf Budde Musikverlag, RH Pozitif Publishing and Andreas Advocado Spieß,
Turgay Ayaydinli See more »

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

Director:

Writer:

Stars:

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