Head On, New Turkish Cinema.

Cahit Tomruk (Birol Ünel) is a Turkish German in his 40s. He has given up on life after the death of his wife and seeks solace in cocaine and alcohol. One night, he intentionally drives his car head-on into a wall, and barely survives. At the psychiatric clinic he is taken to, Sibel Güner (Sibel Kekilli), another Turkish German who has tried to commit suicide, approaches him. She asks Cahit to carry out a formal marriage with her so that she can break out of the strict rules of her conservative family. Cahit is initially turned off by the idea, but then he agrees to take part in this plan.

The Metropolis Association and the Izmir Cinema Association, in partnership with the Turkish Embassy in Lebanon, are glad to present the 2nd edition of the cycle New Turkish Cinema. 12 films of different genres will be screened at Metropolis Empire Sofil between the 5th and the 11th of March 2012, including a special selection of the reclaimed director Fatih Akin.

The festival will be opened with Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s film Once upon a time in Anatolia (winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes Film Festival in 2011). The audience will also have the chance to see the latest film of Tyfun Piselimoglu Hair, as well as the favorites of the Turkish film festival such as What Remains by Cigdem Vitrinel, Zephyr by Belma Bas and Cosmos by Reha Erdem. In addition to this, the cycle will present the debut film of Seren Yuce Majority (winner of the Lion of the Future, Venice Film Festival 2010).

A special selection of the reclaimed director Fatih Akin will be selected: the romantic comedy In July (2000), the awarded Torino (2002), the reclaimed Head-On (winner of the Golden Bear, Berlin Film Festival 2004) and the documentary Crossing the Bridge: the Sound of Istanbul (2005).

Special Formula:Film duration: 121 minutes.