Find your own fate in a day

BACK STAGE
SASA MAJUMA | Wednesday May 2, 2007 00:00

(On the 8th of May at 6 pm the German film Beyond Silence is being shown at the Star Dust Cinema, Grand Palm, as part of the European Union (EU) Film Festival.
In July is a most entertaining road movie and romantic comedy. The road movie is a popular genre and such films can be found from most countries. My favourites are: from Italy, La Strada (1954); England, Two for the Road (1966); USA, Bonnie and Clyde (1967) and Paper Moon (1973); Australia, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994); and Cuba, Guantanamera (1995). In July is a welcome addition to the family from Germany.
In July is the story of Daniel (Moritz Bleibtreu, which means 'stay true' in English, who starred in Run, Lola Run, 1999). Daniel is a very straight science teacher in Hamburg who lives alone and is free of any commitment. On the last day of school, just before the summer holidays, he meets Juli (Christiane Paul) who has been observing him as he walks by each day. She sells him a ring with an image of the sun on it. To Daniel it is a magic ring which will lead him to the girl he loves.
As with many good road movies, the film begins in the middle, then loops back to the beginning and progresses through to the end. What is happening in the middle of the story heightens the tension and keeps the viewers interest. The movie opens with Isa (Mehmet Kurtulus) driving a Benz through a seemingly wasteland in Bulgaria. It is a hot dry day. He stops, then opens the boot of the car where we see a corpse curled up. Daniel arrives, wanting a lift. A sequence of quick events occurs, leading Isa to believe he now has two corpses to deal with. Daniel overhears him and wakes with a jolt. Isa tries to throw him out, but eventually they become friends and, Daniel starts to tell Isa his story.
Daniel's tale takes him from Hamburg on his way to Istanbul, Turkey, across the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and on to Bulgaria. He has various misadventures involving three beautiful young women. In Hamburg, Juli was late to their 'date' - and by then, already Daniel was star struck by a gorgeous Turkish woman, Meket (Idel Umer) who arrived unexpectedly wearing a sun on her T-shirt - the symbol he was to look for. They spend a few days together and then she flies back to Istanbul. School is now out, and he decides to head east. All he knows is that on a certain day at noon Meket will be meeting her boyfriend under the bridge over the Straits of Bosporus separating Asia from Europe.
Leaving Hamburg, who should be hitch-hiking, determined to go the way of her first lift, but Juli. Daniel stops and now the road show begins - though the River Danube seems to guide their destiny, helping love between the duo to take off. The film presents an amazing comedy of errors, with so much happening that to say much more would spoil all the surprises. So just a skeleton: a truck driver, Leo (Jochen Nickel) makes Daniel fight for Juli. When all seems lost he meets a wild young Hungarian woman driving a van, Luna (Branka Katic), and has more misadventures with her. Having lost his money and passport, he still attempts to move onwards towards Istanbul. All good road movies end with an amazing resolution: destination reached, and in this case, only one minute late. Don't miss it.
In July is one hour and 40 minutes long. It is not rated. It is in German and Turkish with English subtitles. The script and direction are by Fatih Akin. The cinematographer is Pierre Aim; the editor is Andrew Bird; and the road music is by Ulrich Wendt.
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