top of page
Search

Streaming: Elbow (2024) by Asli Özarslan: A Gritty Coming-of-Age Story of Rage and Dislocation

The Brutal Reality of Growing Up:

Ellbogen (German for "Elbow"), directed by Asli Özarslan, is a raw and unflinching drama based on the award-winning novel by Fatma Aydemir. The film follows 17-year-old Hazal, a Turkish-German girl in Berlin, as she grapples with feelings of alienation, systemic racism, and a desire for a life beyond her limited options. A tragic event on her 18th birthday forces her to flee to Istanbul, a city she has never known. The film, a German, Turkish, and French co-production, has received 5 wins and 6 nominations at various film festivals. It has a worldwide gross of just over $1,000.

Why to Recommend Movie: A Politically Charged and Viscerally Real Journey

  • Uncompromising Realism: Ellbogen is a film that doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of its protagonist's life. The use of a non-professional lead actor, Melia Kara, adds an authentic, unpolished quality to the portrayal of Hazal and her experiences.

  • A Complex Protagonist: Hazal is a deeply flawed and often unlikable character, but the film compels the audience to understand her anger and frustration. It's a character study that forces viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about society and human nature.

  • Relevant Sociopolitical Commentary: The film is a powerful commentary on the intersection of race, class, and identity for a generation of young people. It highlights the frustrations of being an outsider in one's own country and the unexpected challenges of seeking refuge in a place that should feel like home.

What is the Trend followed: The "New European Realism"

Ellbogen is a prime example of the "New European Realism" trend, which is a movement in European cinema that uses authentic, often non-professional actors and a gritty visual style to tell stories about marginalized communities and social issues. These films often reject traditional narrative structures in favor of a more observational and emotionally raw approach.

  • Gritty Urban Realism: The trend is characterized by its setting in often-unseen parts of European cities, using urban soundscapes and natural lighting to ground the narrative in a tangible reality.

  • Coming-of-Age with a Dark Twist: These films take the coming-of-age genre and infuse it with dark, violent, or tragic elements, reflecting the difficult and often dangerous realities faced by some young people.

  • The "Victim and Perpetrator" Dichotomy: Many films in this genre explore the complex duality of a protagonist who is both a victim of societal circumstances and a perpetrator of a heinous act.

Director's Vision: The Claustrophobic World of a Teenager

  • Visualizing Confinement: Director Asli Özarslan uses a visually claustrophobic style, with a lack of wide shots and a focus on Hazal in the foreground. This reinforces the protagonist's feelings of being trapped and confined by her circumstances.

  • The Power of Sound: The film is heavily grounded in ambient urban sounds, which serve to connect the audience to Hazal's emotional state and sensory experiences, compensating for the lack of wide spatial context.

  • Honesty in Performance: By casting a non-professional actor in the lead role, Özarslan sought to capture a raw honesty and authenticity in the performance, including the use of slang and street language.

Themes: The Unspoken Struggles of a Generation

  • Systemic Racism and Alienation: The film powerfully illustrates the racism and discrimination Hazal faces in Berlin, showing how constant rejection and societal barriers fuel her rage and feelings of otherness.

  • The Search for Identity: Hazal's journey to Istanbul is a desperate attempt to find a sense of belonging, but she discovers that she is an outsider there as well, highlighting the complex and often unresolved nature of bicultural identity.

  • Rage as a Response: The movie is a study in raw, unchanneled rage, showing how anger at systemic injustice and personal humiliation can erupt into a tragic and life-altering act.

Key Success Factors: A Disturbing and Resonant Story

  • Audacious Casting: The decision to cast an untested actor in a complex lead role was a risky but ultimately successful move that gives the film a unique, raw energy.

  • Unflinching Narrative: The film's refusal to offer easy answers or a likable protagonist is a key factor in its success. It challenges the audience to confront uncomfortable truths.

  • Critically Acclaimed Source Material: The film's foundation in Fatma Aydemir's novel provides a strong, pre-existing narrative framework that is rich in social and political commentary.

Awards and Nominations: Festival Recognition

Ellbogen has a total of 5 wins and 6 nominations. It was selected for the prestigious Generation 14plus section at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, where it was nominated for both the Crystal Bear for Best Feature Film and the GWFF Best First Feature Award. It was also nominated for two categories at the German Film Critics' Award 2024, including "Best Debut Feature" and "Best Actress."

Critics Reception: Praised for its Unsettling Authenticity

  • Cineuropa: A review from Cineuropa praised the film for its "unusually dark and violent elements" and the "storytelling economy" that makes every scene serve a clear purpose. It also highlighted the "unflinching" performance of lead actress Melia Kara.

  • The Harvard Crimson: A review from the Harvard Crimson lauded the film for its "claustrophobic cinematography" and its ability to visually express Hazal's feelings of confinement. It also praised the film for being a "politically and culturally charged story" that avoids simple labels of good and bad.

  • MUBI: The film's MUBI page describes it as a "darkly compelling film [that] has no use for easy answers," praising director Asli Özarslan for adapting the award-winning novel into a "startling story of an outsider's fight for recognition and equality."

  • Overall Summary: Critics have largely praised the film for its gritty and unflinching portrayal of its subject. They commend director Asli Özarslan for her bold directorial choices, particularly her use of a non-professional actor and a visually claustrophobic style. The film's refusal to sanitize its protagonist or offer easy solutions is consistently cited as a strength.

Reviews: A Polarizing but Compelling Story

  • IMDb User Review: The single user review on IMDb gives the film a 9/10, praising its authenticity and the central performance by Melia Kara. The reviewer acknowledges that the protagonist is not very likable, but argues that her portrayal is "so good, so subtle at times" that viewers may still feel for her.

  • Overall Summary: With a user rating of 6.0 and a small number of reviews, the film has not yet achieved widespread audience acclaim. However, the existing reviews and critical reception suggest that it is a film that evokes strong reactions, appreciated by viewers who are willing to engage with a difficult and morally ambiguous narrative.

Movie Trend film is following: The New Generation of Socially Conscious Cinema

Ellbogen is at the forefront of a new wave of European cinema that uses the coming-of-age narrative to explore complex social issues like racism, class, and migration. It is a cinematic trend that prioritizes authenticity and emotional honesty over polished visuals and simple resolutions, creating a powerful mirror to the difficult realities of a new generation.

What Big Social Trend is following: The Disenfranchised Youth

The film aligns with the growing global social trend of highlighting the struggles of marginalized and disenfranchised youth. Hazal's rage and feelings of being trapped are a reflection of a generation that feels unheard and unseen by the society they live in. Her violent act is a tragic, but not uncommon, manifestation of a deep-seated frustration and anger that resonates with a global conversation about youth alienation and societal inequality.

Final Verdict: A Challenging but Essential Watch

Ellbogen is not an easy film to watch, nor is it meant to be. It is a powerful, politically charged, and emotionally raw drama that uses its unlikable protagonist to confront audiences with uncomfortable truths about society. Its success lies in its uncompromising realism and its bold artistic choices. This film is an essential watch for anyone interested in the state of contemporary European cinema, the struggles of marginalized youth, and the dark undercurrents that often shape a coming-of-age story. It is a testament to the power of cinema to provoke thought and conversation, long after the credits have rolled.


bottom of page