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Beyto
Switzerland 2020
produced by Magdalena Welter, David Fonjallaz, Louis Mataré for Lomotion, Sulaco Film
directed by Gitta Gsell
starring Burak Ates, Dimitri Stapfer, Ecem Aydin, Beren Tuna, Serkan Tastemur, Zeki Bulgurcu, Müjdat Albak, Délia Antonio, Danijela Milijic Stojcetovic, Zeynep Sanli, Ebru Koyun, Mustafa Basalan, Reto Rieder, Mustafa Kuzucu, Sakem Rash Mendi, Gönül Gezer, Ahmet Talay, Mustafa Soner Saymen, Yusuf Yetkin, Alen Huseyin Gursoy, Fatma Nilgun Islamoglu, Edanur Sahin, Büsra Keten, Rabia Genc
screenplay by Gitta Gsell, based on the novel Hochzeitsflug by Yusuf Yesilöz, music by Benedikt Jeger
review by Mike Haberfelner
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Available on DVD! To buy, click on link(s) below and help keep this site afloat (commissions earned) |
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Beyto (Burak Ates) has been living in Switzerland ever since his
parents (Beren Tuna, Serkan Tastemur) moved here from Turkey when he was a
child, and he's well-integrated in society, has mastered the language, is
excelling at his apprenticeship, and on the side he's a gifted swimmer who
has hopes to compete for team Switzerland in the championships. And then,
rather by chance he finds out that his coach Mike (Dimitri Stapfer) is gay
- and against all expectations, he feels drawn to him, and vice versa, and
the two become a couple. That goes alright for a while, until an aunt
(Zeynep Sanli) sees Beyto a the gay pride parade, and is quick to tell it
to Beyto's parents. Now they're devastated by the realization their son
might be gay, and they trick him into joining them on a trip to their home
village in Turkey, where they then expect him to marry Seher (Ecem Aydin),
his childhood friend he has long been promised to. Beyto initially wants
to hear none of it, but he now finds himself caught between his love for
Mike on one side, his responibility towards his family and also Seher, and
quite generally tradition on the other. Thing is, he likes Seher,
for whom going to Switzerland with him would be a great opportunity, but
thinks she deserves somebody who loves her. So ultimately he gives in to
marrying her, also because the consequences of him rejecting her would be
devastating, and in their wedding night they even have sex. But soon, he
just has to come clean with her ... Back in Switzerland, Beyto finds
himself caught between Mike, who doesn't even try to understand his
situation, and his family, whose demands towards him become more and more
suffocating, so much so that he decides to move to Germany, preferably
with both Mike and Seher - but for that to happen, one of the two needs to
bend over backwards ... A very compelling film about the
conflict of staying true to oneself vs. tradition, love vs. duty, and one
that works quite so well because it doesn't put the focus merely on its
themes to hammer its message across, but on very solid storytelling,
meaning presenting us with a well-structured narrative with well fleshed
out and relatable characters, conflicts that feel real, and a
non-judgmental approach to things. And add to this a subtle enough
direction and a competent cast, and you've got one touching piece of
drama.
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