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The Edge of Heaven

Play trailer Poster for The Edge of Heaven 2008 2h 2m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 79 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 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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The Edge of Heaven

The Edge of Heaven

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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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Critics Reviews

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Thomas Elsaesser Film Comment Magazine 03/20/2018
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. Go to Full Review David Ansen Newsweek 02/06/2018
"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. Go to Full Review Josh Rosenblatt Austin Chronicle 09/19/2008
3/5
[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. Go to Full Review Juan Pablo Pugliese EscribiendoCine Feb 16
8/10
...[The Edge of Heaven] keenly illustrates how, through pain, injustice, and death, differences and distances are accepted and overcome. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review David Bernal Cinemanía (Spain) 11/04/2020
3.5/5
[Fatih Akin] weaves a laconic and serene web of characters. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review David Lamble Bay Area Reporter 05/26/2020
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... Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Dani G @RT81139271 03/25/2025 It was evident the growth and maturation of Fatih Akin's storytelling ability as his career was advancing See more Ozgur T @RT29961936 10/17/2024 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. See more Tonatiuh C @tonaman 10/15/2023 parece que la peli nos dice que volvamos a nuestras raíces, ahí está nuestra verdad... See more dave s @RT68722908 09/28/2021 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. See more 08/29/2021 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. See more 03/29/2020 Film about women struggle, mother and daughter both fighting their way in the world. Great plot lovingly filmed. Shows mans inhumanity to woman See more Read all reviews
The Edge of Heaven

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Cast & Crew

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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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The Edge of Heaven

The Edge of Heaven (2007) The Edge of Heaven (2007) View more photos

Movie Info

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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