The Plot: Lia (Mzia Arabuli) arrives in a small Georgian village, looking for her niece Tekla. She made a promise to her sister that she would look after Tekla and bring her home. Tekla is not there, but her friend Achi (Lucas Kankava) knows that she went to Istanbul. Lia brings Achi with her across the neighbouring border of Turkey and into Istanbul. In the search for Tekla, both discover some things about themselves and where their lives are heading…
The Verdict: It’s unfortunate that Levan Akin’s elegant film And Then We Danced never really got the chance to shine in cinemas. It was due to open here just as the pandemic hit and cinemas were consequently shuttered. It showed promise though for the Swedish-born director, given his command of the camera and ability to tell a story through sensitively-directed performances. Four years later, he’s back with his latest offering Crossing which is equally about characters in a time and a place and the search for identity in the modern world. It’s a film that crosses borders, ages and genders and hints as much in the opening note which states that the Turkish and Georgian languages are gender-neutral. The border between the two neighbouring countries comes to represent the crossing of the title, as well as the transition from one gender to another for more than one character.
Tekla left her small-minded Georgian hometown when she became transgender and fled across the border to Istanbul. Her aunt Lia, a former history teacher, and friend Achi spend the next few days searching the city for her, with Lia noting that Istanbul is a place where people come to disappear. As they wander the streets, they encounter the liveliness of the city and other Georgians who live there. They also encounter the transgender community – as represented through lawyer Evrim (Deniz Dumani), who is fighting for transgender rights in a country that is not known for having a great human rights record. Writer-director Akin spins something of an odd-couple story, contrasting the world-weary, stony-faced determination of Lia against the youthful optimism of Achi who is at a crossroads in his own life. Both care for the future of Tekla, but the search for her is going to be challenging in more ways than one.
Akin’s script is a beautifully-observed character piece which gradually becomes less about Tekla and more about the people searching for her and where they’re searching. Istanbul is a popular filming location for international films but they often miss the opportunity to capture its people and vibrant street life – as in the insightful cat documentary Kedi. Akin points his camera away from the usual locations and focuses on that ground-level view of Istanbul as Lia and Achi find out things about themselves in this city that’s foreign to both of them. He captures the flavour of the city, but keeps his characters in check. The purpose is still there, but it’s shot through with a dose of realism. The script isn’t wrapped up in a neat little bow though. Not that it needs to be like that, but something more conclusive and meaningful from Akin would have been welcome. Crossing is a carefully-judged film that has an emotional impact, as well as being a Turkish delight that revels in its depiction of an ancient city from a foreign perspective.
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Review by Gareth O’Connor
In short: Turkish delight
Directed by Levan Akin.
Starring Mzia Arabuli, Lucas Kankava, Deniz Dumani, Nino Karchava.