Lola + Bilidikid

I'm not one for plot summaries; so I will get right to the point. Find this movie. Whatever you do...just find it! Beautifully photographed, excellently acted, brilliantly directed, "Lola and Billy the Kid" (U.S. video release title) is a deeply affecting movie that gives us a rare glimpse into the gay-Turkish subculture of modern Berlin and introduces us to characters who -- though they may be far removed from ourselves -- are heartbreakingly real, utterly dynamic, and upliftingly human. The Suddendeutche Zeitung said this movie "has a touch of West Side Story and a pinch of Rebel Without a Cause." It is a very accurate statement. As one who tries to see every gay-themed film out there, I can honestly say that Lola jumps to the top of the list... a well-crafted, brilliant piece of filmmaking that is not only one of the best gay-themed films I've see, but also one of the best films of any genre I've come across. Like "My Beautiful Laundrette," Lola made me laugh, made me cry, and made me want to know more about the subculture and racial dynamics it represents.

Love, death, hatred, romance, fierce drag queens, coming out stories, underground club scenes... You'll smile, laugh and cry during this beautiful movie set in the Turkish Ghetto in Berlin.

Excinting labyrinth of desires, illusions and freedom's skin. Exploration of ambiguous universe and many questions about facts, gestures or games without end. Fall from artificial paradises and slices of original silence. Bones of old wars and innocence of long expectation.

It is a cruel trip in a harsh way of life. Expresion of special search and everyday lost. It is interesting the relation of characters with Turkish memories. The image of run, the limits of refuge, the routine and the dialogs, the touch of disappointed and the hope of a chimeric future.

In fact, the atmosphere of "Lola + Bilidikid" is the same like in latest Romanians movies ("Stare de fapt", "Marfa si banii", "Pepe si Fifi", Prea tarziu", "Terminus Paradis"). Same moral crisis, same disillusion, same stupid games, same torpor.

But the essence of film is the search of Murat. Hero of Dostoievsky, he lives beyond the secrets or lies. He is projection of his personal discoveries and for him the dreams are more that fiction. He hopes.

As a German-American, this movie smashed me between the eyes on several different levels. First of all, the acting, casting, directing, cinematography, editing, all superb.

This amazing film takes on huge cultural issues and taboos that neither the Germans or their Turkish "guests" really want to face. Culture clash is brutally and honestly portrayed, not only between the two nationalities, but within the cultures as well. The beautiful gay Turk who cannot accept himself, the questioning, sensitive (and beautiful) gay boy trying to find himself and the truth of his family, the wonderfully portrayed German Aristocrat and his oh so proper mother, the gay Aryan boy struggling to prove himself to his thug friends, all combine to make a complex and enthralling film. The script is intriguing and contains many surprises. The strength of character that most of the gay players (the drag queens and Murat especially) exhibit is inspiring. The style of the film is dark and disturbing, showing an aspect of the new Germany that you won't see in any travel brochures.

Raw emotion has rarely been portrayed so effectively on screen.

I am puzzled that this movie has not made a bigger splash worldwide. Rent this film! Go to the Theatre now!

Lola + Bilidikid (Lola and Billy the Kid) written and directed by the dynamic E. Kutlug Ataman is an immensely interesting view of the lives of Turks in Berlin. The many characters introduced at a seemingly random fashion all are woven in the loom of Ataman, becoming one connected tapestry of ethnic clashes, humor, drama, and intensely moving views of family and love. From the quiet moments at the beginning to the unexpected ending this film dazzles with color, music, highly developed character development by some fine actors, and edge of the seat tension.

The Turkish subculture in Berlin is the hotbed for trouble between Turks and Germans. Add to this setting the fact that the film deals with the taboos of gay life, transgender and transvestite men, and the concomitant stresses of families who deal with these issues on a daily basis and the result is a film full of richly detailed stories.

Lola (Gandi Mukli), a Turkish drag queen has a lover Billy the Kid (Erdal Yildiz), a macho, closeted Turk who views his role as the Man and Lola as the woman and encourages Lola to have gender altering surgery so they can live as husband and wife back in Turkey. Murat (Baki Davrak) is Lola's baby brother, also gay, living with his mother and older brother, Osman (Hasan Ali Mete) who disowned Lola for his proclivities. After 15 years Lola returns home to demand his inheritance share to proceed with his sex change and reunites with Murat eventually revealing murky family secrets: the results are tragic to all involved. This is the main story of the film. But there are many others! There is a fascinating relationship between another Turk Iskender (Murat Yilmaz) who is picked up by an older elegant German Friedrich (Michael Gerber) whose affair meets with challenges from his aged but grand mother Ute (a marvelous Inge Keller!). And there is the gay bashing drama between young German lads and the Turks which instead of being simply an evil tragedy is a character study of why gay bashing occurs: the main perpetrator is ambivalent about his own sexuality and the way this story plays out is both gruesome and heartbreaking.

Yes, there are other side stories but suffice it to say that Ataman has created a film mesmerizing in content and production. It is one of those films that pleads to be watched again after the various stories have been told: knowledge of the ending events is yet more potent the second time around. Recommended for lovers of art films. In German with subtitles. Grady Harp