On the website of the Norddeutsche Rundfunk (State television and radio of Nothern Germany) visitors may watch for free “Head-On” (Original title “Gegen die Wand”) by german-turkish film director Fatih Akin (Interview 2005). Just go here and click on the face of the woman.

Informations about the plot can be found here at IMDB or here at the english Wikipedia. The movie is only to be seen in german and turkish language, but with the help of the subtitles, that can be downloaded on several places in the net (For example here), it should be also possible for foreigners to get the point. In fact the power and energy that has made this movie winning several awards does not only come from the dialogues but as well from the pictures, the music and the atmosphere in general. A couple of scenes take place at my favorite areas in Hamburg like Altona – were I also live today – and the worldwide known Reeperbahn.

The movie gives an inside view on the conflict between traditional conservative and modern ways of life within migrant families. Director Fatih Akin who carries both the turkish and the german culture within himself plays an important role in the reduction of prejudices and creation of understanding for the situation of Turks in Germany, which is badly needed as with more than 2 million Turks are the by far biggest group of people with foreign background in this country.