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IMDbPro

Head-On

Original title: Gegen die Wand
  • 20042004
  • RR
  • 2h 1m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
54K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
6,933
266
Head-On (2004)
With the intention to break free from the strict familial restrictions, a suicidal young woman sets up a marriage of convenience with a forty-year-old addict, an act that will lead to an outburst of envious love.
Play trailer1:52
1 Video
50 Photos
DramaRomance
With the intention to break free from the strict familial restrictions, a suicidal young woman sets up a marriage of convenience with a forty-year-old addict, an act that will lead to an out... Read allWith the intention to break free from the strict familial restrictions, a suicidal young woman sets up a marriage of convenience with a forty-year-old addict, an act that will lead to an outburst of envious love.With the intention to break free from the strict familial restrictions, a suicidal young woman sets up a marriage of convenience with a forty-year-old addict, an act that will lead to an outburst of envious love.
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
54K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
6,933
266
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Fatih Akin
    • Writer
      • Fatih Akin(book)
    • Stars
      • Birol Ünel
      • Sibel Kekilli
      • Güven Kiraç
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Fatih Akin
    • Writer
      • Fatih Akin(book)
    • Stars
      • Birol Ünel
      • Sibel Kekilli
      • Güven Kiraç
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 92User reviews
    • 118Critic reviews
    • 78Metascore
    • Awards
      • 25 wins & 14 nominations

    Videos1

    Head-On (2004) Trailer
    Trailer 1:52
    Head-On (2004) Trailer

    Photos50

    Head-On (2004)
    Head-On (2004)
    Head-On (2004)
    Head-On (2004)
    Head-On (2004)
    Head-On (2004)
    Birol Ünel and Sibel Kekilli in Head-On (2004)
    Catrin Striebeck and Birol Ünel in Head-On (2004)
    Catrin Striebeck and Birol Ünel in Head-On (2004)
    Birol Ünel and Sibel Kekilli in Head-On (2004)
    Birol Ünel and Sibel Kekilli in Head-On (2004)
    Birol Ünel and Sibel Kekilli in Head-On (2004)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Birol Ünel
    Birol Ünel
    • Cahit
    Sibel Kekilli
    Sibel Kekilli
    • Sibel
    Güven Kiraç
    • Seref
    Zarah Jane McKenzie
    • Barfrau in der Fabrik
    • (as Zarah McKenzie)
    Stefan Gebelhoff
    • Nico
    Catrin Striebeck
    • Maren
    Francesco Fiannaca
    • Mann am Tresen
    Mona Mur
    Mona Mur
    • Stammkundin Zoe Bar
    Ralph Misske
    Ralph Misske
    • Patient 1 (Psychiatrie)
    Philipp Baltus
    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)
    Orhan Güner
    Orhan Güner
    • Busfahrer
    Herr Tekin
    • Barbier
    Meltem Cumbul
    Meltem Cumbul
    • Selma (Cousine)
    • Director
      • Fatih Akin
    • Writer
      • Fatih Akin(book)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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.
    • 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".
    • Quotes

      Dr. Schiller: If you want to end your life, end it. You don't have to kill yourself to do that.

    • 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.
    • Connections
      Featured in 2006 Independent Spirit Awards (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      Saniye'm
      ( K/T: Selim Sesler, produced by Alexander Hacke )

      Performed by Selim Sesler and Orchestra, Idil Üner

    User reviews92

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    A Thrilling Roller Coaster Ride of Love and Loss
    "Head On (Gegen die Wand)" is a completely original love story and shames conventional Hollywood romantic comedies with its fresh take on love and loss as rich as Rhett and Scarlett.

    The closest I can think of a dysfunctional couple meeting so oddly cute and playing out an unusual relationship is in Christopher Fry's "The Lady's Not for Burning" which shares self-destructive lovers. The German literal title of "Against the Wall" is more resonant of how they feel, but the American distributors probably thought that had too much political implication.

    The completely self-involved he and she here are innately off-kilter because writer/director Faith Akin sets them within a diverse Turkish immigrant community of Germany, so that their personalities are circumscribed by cultural expectations and restrictions, she chafing against binds on women and he lost in the nihilistic punk rock underground.

    The rocky journey of how they find their own individuality within their sexual and emotional needs and ethnic identity and what each means to the other is an unpredictable thrill ride as each unexpected action leads to tears, laughter, poignancy and regret of bad timing. This is a baldly brash and frank exploration of the meaning of love and marriage, as individuals and within a web of family, friends and culture.

    Craggy-faced Birol Ünel is riveting as the older, burned-out case whose past we only glimpse. Sibel Kekilli at first seems like just another pretty young thing, but brings spunk and sympathy on her maturing roller coaster ride. Evidently, deleted scenes that are available on the European DVD help to expand on the hints as to what her closing motivations are.

    Dependant on the English subtitles, I'm sure I lost some significances as I wasn't sure when characters were speaking Turkish or German, let alone able to discern their fluency in either, with the added fillip of recognition of globalization with a sudden concluding discussion in Istanbul in English of their future.

    The chapter introductions by an ethnic band playing a traditional sad love song adds to the timeliness of the tale that is reminiscent of old folk ballads of tragic love stories. In between, the punk rock and contemporary world fusion selections are terrific, including the moving closing song.
    helpful•79
    13
    • noralee
    • Feb 16, 2005

    FAQ2

    • What happens at the end? Cahit leaves on the bus alone, or they travel together?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 11, 2004 (Germany)
    • Countries of origin
      • Germany
      • Turkey
    • Languages
      • German
      • Turkish
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Against the Wall
    • Filming locations
      • Fabrik, Altona, Hamburg, Germany
    • Production companies
      • ARTE
      • Bavaria Film International
      • Corazón International
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $435,395
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $15,216
      • Jan 23, 2005
    • Gross worldwide
      • $11,065,801
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 1 minute
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital EX
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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