Lola and Billy the Kid (1999)

17-year old Murat from Turkey, living in Berlin, Germany, slowly discovers his homosexuality. His older brother Osman, head of the family since the father's death, wants him to finally lose... See full summary »

Director:

Kutlug Ataman

Writer:

Kutlug Ataman

Stars:

Gandi Mukli, Baki Davrak, Erdal Yildiz

6 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gandi Mukli	...	Lola
Baki Davrak	...	Murat
Erdal Yildiz	...	Bilidikid
Inge Keller	...	Ute
Michael Gerber	...	Friedrich
Murat Yilmaz	...	Iskender
Hasan Ali Mete	...	Osman
Hakan Tandogan	...	Fatma Souad
Cihangir Gümüstürkmen	...	Lale Lokum
Celal Perk	...	Sehrazat
Mesut Ozdemir	...	Kalipso
Ulrich Simontowitz	...	Man in Tiergarten
Willi Herren	...	Rudy
Mario Irrek	...	Hendryk
Jan Andres	...	Walter

Storyline

17-year old Murat from Turkey, living in Berlin, Germany, slowly discovers his homosexuality. His older brother Osman, head of the family since the father's death, wants him to finally lose his virginity (in a heterosexual manner) and thus causes Murat to run away. In a bar, Murat meets Lola, who has some things to tell about him. He also meets Bilidikid, Lolas man, who thinks that Murat might have thrown an eye on Lola. But the truth about Lola, Murat and his family is far worse that anyone could have expected.

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Plot Keywords:

berlin germany | semen | male nudity | male male kiss | male hustler | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

Germany

Language:

Turkish German

Release Date:

11 March 1999 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Lola and Billy the Kid

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

Boje Buck Produktion, Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR), Witch

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

Güzel kokulu çocuk
Written by Arpad Bondy, Kutlug Ataman
Performed by Deniz Türkali

User Reviews

A Dazzling Kaleidoscopic Theme and Variations

Lola + Bilidikid (Lola and Billy the Kid) written and directed by the dynamic E. Kutlug Ataman is an immensely interesting view of the lives of Turks in Berlin. The many characters introduced at a seemingly random fashion all are woven in the loom of Ataman, becoming one connected tapestry of ethnic clashes, humor, drama, and intensely moving views of family and love. From the quiet moments at the beginning to the unexpected ending this film dazzles with color, music, highly developed character development by some fine actors, and edge of the seat tension.

The Turkish subculture in Berlin is the hotbed for trouble between Turks and Germans. Add to this setting the fact that the film deals with the taboos of gay life, transgender and transvestite men, and the concomitant stresses of families who deal with these issues on a daily basis and the result is a film full of richly detailed stories.

Lola (Gandi Mukli), a Turkish drag queen has a lover Billy the Kid (Erdal Yildiz), a macho, closeted Turk who views his role as the Man and Lola as the woman and encourages Lola to have gender altering surgery so they can live as husband and wife back in Turkey. Murat (Baki Davrak) is Lola's baby brother, also gay, living with his mother and older brother, Osman (Hasan Ali Mete) who disowned Lola for his proclivities. After 15 years Lola returns home to demand his inheritance share to proceed with his sex change and reunites with Murat eventually revealing murky family secrets: the results are tragic to all involved. This is the main story of the film. But there are many others! There is a fascinating relationship between another Turk Iskender (Murat Yilmaz) who is picked up by an older elegant German Friedrich (Michael Gerber) whose affair meets with challenges from his aged but grand mother Ute (a marvelous Inge Keller!). And there is the gay bashing drama between young German lads and the Turks which instead of being simply an evil tragedy is a character study of why gay bashing occurs: the main perpetrator is ambivalent about his own sexuality and the way this story plays out is both gruesome and heartbreaking.

Yes, there are other side stories but suffice it to say that Ataman has created a film mesmerizing in content and production. It is one of those films that pleads to be watched again after the various stories have been told: knowledge of the ending events is yet more potent the second time around. Recommended for lovers of art films. In German with subtitles. Grady Harp