For those on the pulse of recent indies, defiant and hopeful films about trans people as well as films set in Turkey are on the rise. “Crossing” crosses both of those together.
The narrative is set in motion when Lia, a retired teacher, embarks to Istanbul to find her long lost transgender niece- Tekla- when her neighbour Achi speaks of where she could be. Achi joins Lia on this search as an interpreter- after all they don’t speak Georgian in Turkey. Lia hopes to bring back this missing piece of her family whereas Achi, who’s only in his twenties, seeks to kick-start his life there. In Istanbul, they meet Ervin, a trans lawyer and activist. A pair of impoverished children who hustle to make some money are also a frequent presence.
In the journey of finding lost family, found family emerges along the way as Lia learns to connect with the people around her. I mention all these characters as they all struggle to make ends meet and, more importantly, all are haunted by the absence of a family member. This is a celebration of breaking down barriers and being empathetic towards other people, even if they aren’t family.
It would be easy to focus on the difficulties and discrimination faced on being trans in Georgia and Turkey but with the inclusion of Ervin, it gives hope and demonstrates that a lot more is possible than sex work for trans runaways like Tekla.
Levan Atkin previously made an acclaimed film titled “And Then We Danced” (which is admittedly all I know about that but that should soon change). I love a film with a great dance scene, and this has three which provide opportunity to bask in the roaring culture in Istanbul and also to provide emotional release for both the characters and the audience.
The performances are excellent all around but the one which particularly impressed me was Mzia Arabuli. Lia is a stoic character- one in a state of guilt, obligation and fatigue as she searches for her niece. This near-mourning attitude is signified by the black coat she always wears. She is quite a cold presence, at least at first, but we see her emotion through subtle but effective facial expressions where we can tell how she fees deep down. It’s a quiet performance so layered that it helps immerse you in the character of Lia.
It’s a beautiful film to look at, capturing Istanbul’s grand scale and also capturing the subtle intricacies of its characters. The score is also great, especially when it comes to the dancing.
In summary, “Crossing” treats its dark subject matter of estranged and missing families and societal and financial struggles sadly more so for the marginalised with significant empathy and ultimately hope in a vibrant and compelling drama deserving to be seen.
Harry Denton
Friends of Hyde Park Picture House 