Film Reviews

Crossing The Bridge: The Sound Of Istanbul

• Rating:
• Director: Fatih Akins
• Starring: Alexander Hacke
• Details: Germany, Turkey, 92mins (PG).

Fatih Akin, the director of Head On, returns to Turkey to explore the wide musical diversity of Istanbul - a city long thought to be the bridging point between east and west - where music is awash with all influences. Crossing The Bridge centres on Alexander Hacke, bass player for German avant-garde band Einsturzende Neubauten, who recorded a few songs for Head On and fell in love with the city; setting up his laptop in a hotel with the intent of recording Turkish bands and documenting the progression of Turkish rock. But Akin finds more than a burgeoning rock scene when he happens across socially conscious rapper Celo - whose machine gun vocal delivery would give any rapper stateside a run for his money: "No Gangsta rap - that's American. We're more political". A fact not lost on his traditional father who comments: "that kind of hip-hop music is just what Turkey needs right now". From there Akin addresses the small street break-dancing scene and street musicians who want to turn people off the ever-growing heroin problem and onto music. As the documentary continues, it becomes apparent that Akin is recording more than just footage of various musicians. There is a underlying theme that only music is universal and it is only music that can solve the world's problems and not in a 'Flower Power' way, but if a city like Istanbul welcomes all music influences from around the world, then it is only natural that the cultures that the music came from will be welcomed too. For those who feel like experimenting and widening their musical tastes, Crossing The Bridge is a strong starting point.

Review by Gavin Burke