Turkish-German Film Tops Berlin Festival

Directed by Fatih Akin – himself a German of Turkish parents – the film chronicles the life of Sibel, played by Sibel Kekilli, who marries a beer-guzzling, middle-aged Turkish-German punk. As the two revel in their party lifestyles and separate sexual affairs, they unwittingly fall in love – a situation that ends when the husband kills one of her lovers in a jealous rage.

Born to Turkish parents in Hamburg, Akin said he lives in "loyal opposition" to the traditions of Turkish culture, and the film reflects his version of immigrant life.

"I hope that this will finally blow away the label of the exotic immigrant," Akin told reporters. "I think the prize will help that."

The sexually explicit and often violent film is sure to spark discussion in Germany’s Turkish community as well as among Germans themselves, who have struggled in finding an effective integration policy for the 2 million Turks living in Germany.