A retired Georgian teacher sets out to reunite with her estranged niece in Istanbul in Levan Akin's compassionate third feature.
The last promise that Lia (Mzia Arabuli) made to her sister before her death was that she would reunite with her niece, Tekla, after many years of estrangement. After gleaning from an old student that Tekla has left Georgia for neighbouring Turkey, Lia makes plans for a long journey to Istanbul. Sensing an opportunity to get away from his bullying half-brother and forge his path in a new country, cheeky chappie Achi (Lucas Kankava) begs Lia to let him come along for the ride, claiming he knows where her niece might be staying. A reluctant Lia permits Achi to accompany her, and together they set off on Tekla’s trail.
Meanwhile, in Istanbul, Evrim (Deniz Dumanlı) is in the final stages of securing a new ID which affirms her female identity. A lawyer for an NGO which fights for trans rights, she’s a tough, street-smart woman who keeps a close eye on her trans sisters as well as the tearaway tykes in her local neighbourhood – a beaten-up area of the city that offers both refuge for the trans community and trouble in the form of police scrutiny. Fate will bring these three together as Lia and Achi comb the city, as Levan Akin’s third feature celebrates the vibrant beauty of Istanbul’s trans community.
Following his breakout drama And Then We Danced, Akin now immerses the audience in the bustling Turkish capital, from its lively nightlife to the famous street cats prowling in and out of frames at will. Details about the trio of central characters emerge slowly but surely, creating bright portraits of people who are flawed but trying to learn from their mistakes all the time. As in his previous films, Akin doesn’t settle for the unrealistic comfort of easy answers and happy endings, challenging his characters to confront their pasts. While the film does feel a little cliched in its odd couple premise, the tenderness and grace with which Akin tells this story counterbalance this, and Crossing has a bright sense of humour which cuts through some of the tension inherent in a culture clash narrative.
The three central performances work well together, with Mzia Arabuli portraying Lia as a woman struggling with the weight of personal and familial regret, while Lucas Kankava presents the lovable rogue Achi as cocksure but ultimately caring. Meanwhile, Evrim is an empowered woman with a clear idea of the life she wants to live. She’s kinda and compassionate to those who need her help, with a steely determination even in the face of discrimination and medical bureaucracy. In one moving scene, she fills out paperwork at a hospital, only to be interrupted by a curious stray cat. Evrim sets her paperwork aside and allows the animal to climb into her lap for a fuss. It’s a wordless indication of where Evrim’s priorities lie, and how the film encourages gentleness and understanding.
Sweet without being cloying, it’s a love letter to the commonalities between Georgian and Turkish culture; one that encourages empathy and reminds us it’s never too late to change for the better.
Published 17 Feb 2024
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