The Edge of Heaven Faith Akin

(aka 'Ai confini del paradiso' or 'On the Other Side' or 'The Edge of Heaven' or 'Yasamin kiyisinda')

Directed by Fatih Akin
Germany | Turkey | Italy 2007

Turkish-German director Fatih Akin broadens his canvas and quietens his tone for his follow-up to the fiery and intimate ‘Head-On’ (2004). His concern is again with movement between Turkey and Germany – and its consequences for the individual – although this time his enquiry takes on a cross-generational edge, as well as a more thoughtful and maudlin one: we’re never very far from death.

Coincidence is Akin’s scheme as he separately presents, via two chapters, the lives of an estranged mother and daughter. Yeter (Nursel Köse) is a prostitute in Bremen who makes an arrangement to live with elderly Ali (Tuncel Kurtiz), another lost Turk, although he accidentally kills her when she threatens to leave.

Meanwhile, her daughter, Ayten (Nurgül Yesilçay) is a dissident on the run in Hamburg who makes friends with a German woman, Lotte (Patrycia Ziolkowska), who’s willing to go to any length to help her. Events move to Istanbul when Ayten is repatriated and Ali’s son, Nejat (Baki Davrak), a professor of German, arrives in the city looking to find the daughter of his father’s late partner-cum-escort.

Excerpt from TimeOut Film Guide located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: May 23rd, 2007 - Cannes Film Festival

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DVD Comparison:

Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL vs. Strand - Region 1 - NTSC

(Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL LEFT vs. Strand - Region 1 - NTSC RIGHT)

DVD Box Cover
Distribution	Artificial Eye Film Company - Region 2 - PAL	Strand Releasing - Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	1:55:36 (4% PAL Speedup)	1:55:52
Video	1.85:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.2 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1.85:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.16 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: AE
Bitrate: Strand
Audio	Turkish (Dolby Digital 5.1), Turkish (Dolby Digital 2.0)	Turkish (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles	English, None	English (non-removable)
Features	Release Information: Studio: Artificial Eye Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.85:1 Edition Details: • Trailers • Featurette: 'Fatih Akin: Diary of a Film Traveller' (57:00) DVD Release Date: June 9th, 2008 Transparent Keep Case Chapters: 16	Release Information: Studio: Strand Releasing Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.85:1 Edition Details: • Trailers • Featurette: 'Fatih Akin: Diary of a Film Traveller' (57:00) DVD Release Date: October 14th, 2008 Keep Case Chapters: 12

Comments:

ADDITION: Strand - Region 1 - NTSC: Good grief - Strand just aren't 'getting it' I'm afraid:

1) Their transfer is from an unconverted PAL source (with the associated artifacts - 'combing' and 'ghosting')

2) It has non-removable English subtitles.

3) Losses the 5.1 audio (offers only 2.0).

4) Costs more than the superior UK disc.

This is a very worthy film - get the Artificial Eye edition (and use all the money you save never buying Strand again to fund a new region-free player).

***

Another fabulous film from the bountiful crop of 2007. Wow - what a year. This is very humanistic cinema - worthy of a vast audience.

Artificial Eye have done the film justice with an extremely competent transfer to SD-DVD; anamorphic in the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, progressive and housed on a dual-layered disc. The image looks very strong with a muted palette, pristine detail in close-ups and well-defined contrast levels. Dark scenes may be a tad saturated. Unless Criterion decides to release this in Region one (of which they have no plans to as far as I know) then this will be the best English-friendly representation of the film available for your home theater experience.

The audio has two flavors - 2.0 channel and 5.1 - the latter having no intense separation as The Edge of Heaven is predominantly dialogue-driven (center channel). Being such a modern film - the track is expectantly clear and clean. There was some enjoyable classical (Bach?) infused into the narrative - that I quite enjoyed. There are optional English subtitles in white font with a black border.

Supplements include three other trailers as well as one for the film and an almost hour long featurette - 'Fatih Akin: Diary of a Film Traveller'. The director/writer is able to indulge himself and there are behind the scenes sequences as well as input from the cast and production team. It is informative for those keen enough to indulge.

Akin's direction exudes confidence and the film's pacing is delicately assured. This DVD comes through with a wonderful presentation - which we strongly endorse. Great job Artificial Eye!

Gary W. Tooze

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(Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL LEFT vs. Strand - Region 1 - NTSC RIGHT)