Germany, Türkiye 2004Language:German, TurkishDirector:Fatih AkinWriter:Fatih AkinCinematographer:Rainer KlausmannEditor:Andrew BirdWith:Birol Ünel, Sibel Kekilli, Cem Akin, Catrin StriebeckProducer:Stefan Schubert, Ralph SchwingelProduction Company:Wüste Film GmbHDistributor:Wüste Film GmbH121 min, Colour

Young Sibel and 40-year-old alcoholic Cahit get to know each other in hospital after both have attempted suicide. In order to escape her strict parental home, young Sibel enters into a sham marriage with him. Initially, the plan works: Sibel gains freedom and Cahit finds new courage to face life. However, when he falls in love with the young woman with a zest for life, everything spirals out of control... Fatih Akin’s multi-award-winning masterpiece won the Golden Bear at the 2004 Berlinale. GEGEN DIE WAND tells an intense love story set against a backdrop of cultural conflicts, the search for identity and inner conflict, thereby sparking a new debate on migration and integration in German film.

Director's Biography:Fatih Akin was born in Hamburg in 1973 as the son of Turkish immigrants. He is a film director, screenwriter and producer. He has received numerous awards for his films and is one of the best-known and most important contemporary directors in Germany. 

Director's Filmography:

2025 AMRUM
2022 RHEINGOLD
2019 THE GOLDEN GLOVE
2017 IN THE FADE


Film image: © WÜSTE Film, Photographer Kerstin Stelter