Film directed by Fatih Akin, starring professional actor Birol Ünel and pornstar Sibel Kekilli. While not devoid of merit, the film (a drama about the Turkish experience in Germany) is harmed by the fact that Kekilli can't act, which is a big issue since her character carries most of the weight of the film. Ünel's performance salvages the movie.

First prison I've ever seen with wall-to-wall carpeting. Head-On is an example of a particularly well-trodden Hollywood premise (a mismatched couple in a marriage of convenience legitimately falling in love) and making it a legitimate drama - contemporary social conflicts, humor and barbs in equal measure, and protagonists with flaws that highlight a sense of realism without sacrificing their likability. What makes the film work most of all is the time dedicated to allowing the characters to grow as a direct result of their exposure to one another, transitioning from a slapdash engagement to a genuinely complementary dynamic that sees the two fluttering between longing, perplexity, affection, and melancholy. There's a degree of legitimate suffering in the film that makes the audience actually invested in the fate of the two characters without feeling exploitative; when the pair are left in a hotel room conversing in short, pained sentences, writer-director Fatih Akin earns that moment. Really solid performances from Birol Ünel as Cahit and Sibel Kekilli as Sibel. Obligatory "HEAD-ON: APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE FOREHEAD." (3.5/5)

Wow, that was quite a movie. I'm not sure what to say so I'll give a quick rundown. The cinematography is awesome, so is the acting. The storytelling on the other hand, can be a little difficult to follow, though its not so bad as to ruin the movie, and in a way gels with the chaos of the characters lives. 90/100

The characters are so self destructive that it's hard to watch at times, but it's rewarding. The kind of movie that sits with you a while.

Two despicably selfish characters, yet it is their selfishness that reminds us so often of ourselves...

Lovely characters in despair, lives full of contrasts. Pace changing from frenetic to slow, just like the incredible music, in order to give you an even better idea of the clash between cultures.

The greatest film of all time. Not for everyone.

A very raw and emotional love story.

Odlicen germansko/turski film koj ima dobieno glavna nagrada na Berlinskiot Filmski Festival 2004. Muzika: Depeche Mode i Sisters of Mercy.

someones misery depicted at it's best form and one of the best non-English movies ever ?

"Head-on" (Gegen die Wand), is one of those films that you won't probably find in your local cinemas. This film made by Fatih Akin, German citizen from Turkish inheritance, made the perfect mix of tradition and culture in this story. Two self-destructive people, that made a convenience marriage by her requirement to escape from her parents' home breaking the tradition, to live a more occidental style of life. The story has an end that is far different from the typical Hollywood romantic drama. Is very original the music group that play during the film around every 15 minutes of footage, linking with the story.

I have seen this film by mistake, as I messed up with the program of my favorite cine club. Never a mistake was so welcomed.

This film is a cinematic rush from the first frame to the last one... True film experience - see it! :-)

Jaw dropping movie from a young German-Turk director!!!!!!!!!!!!

Interesting and intense movie about two people who meet, love, and live on.

"The power of Akin's film, which is considerably aided by the two lead performances ... comes from the spectacle of people developing feelings for each other even through numbing layers of mutual narcissism, self-loathing and raging terror of intimacy."

Maybe this film was too raw and edgy for me to truly like it but I will acknowledge that it is a very interesting film with some extraordinary commentary about immigrants and cultural identity. Here two misfits fall eventually fall in love through extenuating circumstances despite being stuck in the in between space between Turkish and German cultures. Certainly not for the faint of heart.

I think this movie is overrated. First problem: the main character is ridiculously underdeveloped. Very few detail of his past is revealed to the audience. Second problem: the relationship between the two characters is underdeveloped also. Yes, every guy can understand jealousy when it comes to your partner's relationship/sex with others. But how did he fall madly in love with this woman? because she fixed up his apartment and made him a couple of nice meals!? And then, the lead woman character turns from a wild character to a normal woman. that transformation itself is believable given what happened to her, but, again, no detail is revealed to the audience as to the process of transformation. The movie certainly has very dramatic moments. But i got the feeling that they were there just for the sake of having dramatic moments. But they didn't tie together or to a larger story. But hey, maybe that's life. A lot of stuff happens without ever making a huge sense or impact on your life. The music is used effectively to double the drama of the moment. Camera work is awesome. But at the end of the day, I think this movie is overrated. and to be honest, I think a reason for that may be that it has lots of nudity/soft porn. It's worth a watch.

Great acting with a fantastic script.

was a lil _ initially thinking it was "just another love story". but this german-turkish offering was more than that; liked that it didn't attempt to tie everything up nice and pretty. that sibel kekilli chick is ridiculously attractive , and why does she look so darn familiar too?