The Edge of Heaven

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The Edge of Heaven

Released May 21, 2008

2h 2m

Drama

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Tomatometer

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90%

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78 Reviews

89%

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10,000+ Ratings

Ali Aksu (Tuncel Kurtiz) takes a Turkish prostitute, Yeter (Nursel Köse), into his German apartment to protect her in spite of his disapproving son, Nejat (Baki Davrak). When Yeter dies in an altercation with Ali, Nejat goes to find her daughter in Istanbul. Ayten, Yeter's daughter, escapes from Turkey when her political activism threatens her life. In Germany, she falls for a girl, Lotte (Patrycia Ziolkowska), who follows her to Istanbul when she is deported.

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Critics Consensus

Evocative and complex, this story of struggling immigrants in Germany will stay with you after you leave the theater.

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Thomas Elsaesser

Film Comment Magazine

The subtlety of the film's architecture does not lie in the plot, but has to do with the moral fabric being spun, whose overall design may require a third installment, or at any rate a sequel, to carry the ethical weight.

Mar 20, 2018

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David Ansen

Newsweek

"The Edge of Heaven"'s intricate, almost melodramatic plot shamelessly employs coincidences-much the way "Babel" did-but where that movie's tragic events seemed gratuitous and strained, Akin has a richer, deeper sense of character.

Feb 6, 2018

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Josh Rosenblatt

Austin Chronicle

[It's] a much-needed maturation of the Babel/Crash formula but also fails to rattle your bones the way those movies did. Pick your poison, I suppose.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 19, 2008

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David Bernal

Cinemanía (Spain)

[Fatih Akin] weaves a laconic and serene web of characters. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 3.5/5

Nov 4, 2020

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David Lamble

Bay Area Reporter

Along with vivid depictions of a Turkey torn between the remnants of its ancient Eastern empire and a tantalizingly possible Western future, The Edge of Heaven will delight an opening-night crowd...

May 26, 2020

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Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

There is a delicate beauty to it all. The missed connections tend to get maddening after a while, but Akin directs with a clear compassion for his characters and the cultures in which they live.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 6, 2019

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Dani G

It was evident the growth and maturation of Fatih Akin's storytelling ability as his career was advancing

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/25/25

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Audience Member

Fatih Akin's The Edge of Heaven is a beautifully crafted exploration of fate, loss, and the unexpected connections between strangers. The film weaves together multiple storylines across Germany and Turkey, offering a profound reflection on the complexities of human relationships. The narrative is subtle yet emotionally powerful, and the performances are deeply moving. While the pacing is slow, it allows the themes to develop in a meaningful way. Akin masterfully captures the bittersweet nature of life, making this film both thought-provoking and poignant.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/17/24

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Tonatiuh C

parece que la peli nos dice que volvamos a nuestras raíces, ahí está nuestra verdad...

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/15/23

Full Review

dave s

Fatih Akin's The Edge of Heaven is a complex tapestry of a film about the immigrant experience and the unbroken thread one may have that continues to attach them to their homeland. Both the characters and the story are fascinating as the film alternates between Istanbul and Bremen, following individuals who have escaped the complex social and political structure of Turkey for the stability of Germany, only to find themselves drawn back to their country of origin. Despite the remarkable number of absurd coincidences, some of which serve no discernable purpose other than to make the viewer think ‘oh, what a coincidence', the movie is gripping throughout thanks to the complex story, strong performances, and interesting locales.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

This was an interesting glimpse into Germany's Turkish community. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting based on the short synopsis printed on the cover, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. The coincidences between the parallel stories seemed perhaps a little too contrived at times, but there was a good cast of characters, which created interest, including a retired Turkish gentleman, his Turkish mistress and his professor son, the mistress's revolutionary daughter and others.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

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Audience Member

Film about women struggle, mother and daughter both fighting their way in the world. Great plot lovingly filmed. Shows mans inhumanity to woman

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

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Fatih Akin

Director

Nurgül Yesilçay

Ayten Öztürk

Baki Davrak

Nejat Aksu

Tuncel Kurtiz

Ali Aksu

Hanna Schygulla

Susanne Staub

Nursel Köse

Yeter

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Synopsis

Ali Aksu (Tuncel Kurtiz) takes a Turkish prostitute, Yeter (Nursel Köse), into his German apartment to protect her in spite of his disapproving son, Nejat (Baki Davrak). When Yeter dies in an altercation with Ali, Nejat goes to find her daughter in Istanbul. Ayten, Yeter's daughter, escapes from Turkey when her political activism threatens her life. In Germany, she falls for a girl, Lotte (Patrycia Ziolkowska), who follows her to Istanbul when she is deported.

Director: Fatih Akin
Producer: Fatih Akin, Klaus Maeck, Andreas Thiel
Screenwriter: Fatih Akin
Distributor: Strand
Production Co: Corazón International, Anka Film
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 21, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 13, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $741.3K
Runtime: 2h 2m

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