CROSSING THE BRIDGE

Documentary film directed by Fatih Akin
(Germany-Turkey, 2005), 90’, Original version with French subtitles

The talented German director of Turkish origin, Fatih Akin (Golden Bear recipient in 2004 with Head On), delivers an inspired portrait of the musical life of Istanbul, the crossroads of East and West. By following the steps of German musician Alexander Hacke, the founder of Krautrock, Fatih Akin literally immerses us in the proliferation of places, people and generations that feeds into the Istanbul music scene. There we meet young rappers, rock groups, variety star Sezen Aksu, the 80-year-old diva Muyezzen Senar, Tzigane musicians and many others. Throughout these encounters, we are drawn in by the oscillations between East and West, and by the vibrant mix of influences, genres and instruments.