The edge of heaven

The Edge of heaven (the German original title is Auf Der Anderen Seite) is set in Bremen (Germany) and Istanbul (Turkey). The story incorporates the elements of political activism, economic hardship and homosexuality as the unexpected encounter and departure are coincided throughout the storyline.

The Turkish immigrant father-son living in German met the Turkish prostitute in the same city. Then the son was convicted to help out the education of the prostitute’s daughter after his father accidentally killed her. Meanwhile, Ayten, the daughter of the prostitute who fought for the Turkish communist resistance group escaped to Germany. Ayten met a female German university student and they fell in love. The mother of the German girl was not happy with Ayten’s stay. Ayten was busted by the police and a political asylum was not granted. Lotte (the german girl) rushed to Istanbul, hoping to help Ayten get out of the prison. And here is where the two separate story threads intersects: Lotte found herself at the bookstore run by the Nejat, the Turkish son whose purpose is to help out Ayten and stayed with Nejat. Up until the end of the film, Nejat still did not know of this intersecting point. The story was rolling on: Lotte was innocently killed in an accentual shooting by juvenile pickpockets Lotte’s mother came to Istanbul to reclaim her daughter’s body. She found Nejat and liked to stay in the same room Lotte used to live in. She read through her daughter’s diary and understood her commitment in helping out Ayten. I couldn’t resist my tears from falling off my cheeks as she told Ayten that she forgave her and even wanted to help her. Ayten was very touched. You can tell she felt responsible for indirectly causing Lotte’s death. So she signed up for a repent with the Turkish government and was discharged. She met Lotte’s mother as Nejat forgave his father’s crime and waited for him along the coast.

One of my favorite European movies integrating political activism with personal vicissitudes.