Ellbogen: Hazal's struggle for acceptance and identity in Berlin

Ellbogen: Hazal's struggle for acceptance and identity in Berlin

In the new film "Ellbogen" the viewer meets the haunting figure Hazal, played by the talented Melia Kara. With her brown eyes that reflect anger and frustration, the young Berliner, who comes from a Turkish family, shows the reality of growing up in a split society. Hazal's inner conflicts come to life in an urgent portrait that captures both the challenges and the determination of this motivated young woman.

The action develops into an intensive spectacle when Hazal is confronted with the adversities of its surroundings. We see them in a number of impressive situations, like when it is rejected on her 18th birthday at the door of a club. In view of these and other challenges, Hazal asks provocative questions: "What if I stop and the snails let me eat?" The metaphor game illustrates its inner struggle and the uncertainty that it constantly stresses.

an unexpected escape

The decision to buy a ticket to Istanbul is no coincidence. Hazal believes that life in Turkey could offer an escape from its current predicament. But reality is merciless; There she also has difficulty finding a job or a training position. She has to face the prejudices and rejection again that she has experienced in Germany. "There are rules here in Germany," you are said, while at the same time it is confronted with clichés and the prejudice: "You 'German-Turks' are sometimes naive."

director Asli Özarslan succeeds in impressively presenting the severity and complexity of such experiences in "Ellbogen". She falls back on the novel by Fatma Aydemir, which she read in 2017 and whose rawness captures it in her film. Özarslan explains: "I just wanted to show her gaze to the world. With all its ambivalences, her anger, without having to explain or defend them." This approach made it possible for her to authentically present Hazal's view.

Hazal's trip in this 86-minute film is not a typical coming-of-age story in which the focus is on identity finding. Instead, Hazal pursues a different goal: she is looking for a place in society and tries to find her voice in a world that she often rejects. Your decisions are often impulsive, but her determination remains unbroken until it comes to questions in the moments of uncertainty.

authenticity by closeness

special attention is paid in the way the camera Hazal accompanies through its everyday life. The director, who enjoyed studying documentary production, creates a noticeable proximity to the protagonist. This technical approach gives the film an extraordinary intensity and gives the viewer immersed in Hazal's challenges. Melia Kara, which was discovered in a street casting, brings this complex figure to life with impressive authenticity. Her talent is particularly evident in the emotional depths that overcomes them.

"Ellbogen" is more than just a narrative about the encouragement of cultures and identities. It is a courageous look at the genuine reality of young people who live in the area of tension between origin and individual identity. The film invites you to think about the inner struggles and the longings of a generation that is faced with prejudice and rejection. Hazal stands not only for himself, but also for many voices that are often not heard in society.