Sexuality and Its Role in Head-On

The depiction of sexuality on screen is a burning issue. Many film critics want to see more sexuality, regarding it as normality, but there are also many who oppose its explicit depiction. In the text, I explore the scenes of sexuality in Head-On (Gegen die Wand, 2004). By analytically comparing their film language, I consider the effect they have on the viewer’s perception of the story and their intended role in the film. How do the scenes of sexuality reinforce the characterisation of the characters involved in the acts? How do they underline the omnipresent critique of both Turkish and German society? By defining their clear purpose and their important role in the film, can they be understood as a unique and irreplaceable fragment of film expression? There is no handbook to determine the legitimacy of the depiction of sexuality on screen. Instead, we can explore the depiction of sexuality and the role it plays in the discussed film.

The integral version of this article can be found in the printed KINO!