1 / 8
ERA
Did you know
Released 22 years ago.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Head-On
"You don't really know how much you can love..."
2004 2h 2m DE
👍
7.5
SOLID
★7.5TMDB · 652
DramaRomance
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
With the intention to break free from the strict familial restrictions, a suicidal young woman sets up a marriage of convenience with a forty-year-old addict, an act that will lead to an outburst of envious love.
“You don't really know how much you can love...”
Where to watch · US
Cast
Sibel Kekilli
Sibel Güner
Birol Ünel
Cahit Tomruk
Güven Kıraç
Seref
Meltem Cumbul
Selma
Adam Bousdoukos
Barmann
Mehmet Kurtuluş
Barmann Istanbul
Stefan Gebelhoff
Nico
Catrin Striebeck
Maren
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Fatih Akin
- Writers
- Fatih Akin
- Languages
- German, English, Turkish
- Countries
- Germany, Turkey
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
Dialogue crosses 3 languages: German, English, Turkish.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
International production across 2 countries: Germany, Turkey.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Fatih Akin, shot by Rainer Klausmann. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Maceo Parker. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Andrew Bird shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Sibel Kekilli and Birol Ünel and Güven Kıraç carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "You don't really know how much you can love...".
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Fatih Akin directs. Rainer Klausmann behind the camera. Maceo Parker scores. Andrew Bird cuts. Produced in Germany, Turkey. Dialogue in German, English, Turkish.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 1Released 22 years ago.
- 2Dialogue crosses 3 languages: German, English, Turkish.
- 3International production across 2 countries: Germany, Turkey.
- 4Directed by Fatih Akin, shot by Rainer Klausmann. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Original score by Maceo Parker. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 6Editor Andrew Bird shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 7Sibel Kekilli and Birol Ünel and Güven Kıraç carry the top of the cast.
- 8Marketing tagline: "You don't really know how much you can love...".
- 9IMDB entry: tt0347048 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 10Classified under 11 themes, including "drug abuse", "religious education", "alcohol", "fictitious marriage".
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Rainer Klausmann
- Original score
- Maceo Parker
- Editing
- Andrew Bird
- Production design
- Tamo Kunz
- Costume design
- Katrin Aschendorf
- Stunt coordinator
- Ronnie Paul
- Runtime
- 122 min · 2h 2m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Box office
- $11,030,861
- Original language
- DE
- Certification (US)
- 12
- IMDB
- Head-On (2004)
Awards
- European Film Award for Best Film
- Golden Bear
- European Film Award - People's Choice Award for Best Director
Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.
Also by
Fatih Akin
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
- CO
Corazón International
DE
- WÜ
Wüste Film
DE
ARTE
DE
- BA
Bavaria Film International
DE
- BE
Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien (BKM)
DE
NDR
DE
Pan-Film
DE
Key crew
- ProducerRalph Schwingel
- EditorAndrew Bird
- CastingHarika Uygur
- ProducerAndreas Schreitmüller
- ProducerMehmet Kurtuluş
- ProducerStefan Schubert
- Production DesignTamo Kunz
- ProducerFatih Akin
- Line ProducerAli Akdeniz
- ProducerJeanette Würl
- Production ManagerIngrid Holzapfel
- Assistant EditorNikolai Hartmann
- Special EffectsPeter Wiemker
- Costume DesignKatrin Aschendorf
- Assistant Costume DesignerAlmut Stier
- Art DirectionSirma Bradley
- MusicKlaus Maeck
- Production ManagerMuharrem Gülmez
- CastingMai Seck
- Stunt CoordinatorRonnie Paul
- First Assistant CameraCarol Burandt von Kameke
- PublicistMira Husseini
- Lighting TechnicianÜmit Barlas
- Still PhotographerKerstin Stelter
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- drug abuse
- religious education
- alcohol
- fictitious marriage
- homicide
- roommates
- religion and supernatural
- turkey
- love
- family
- hamburg, germany
Release history · US
When it landed
- Digital2004-04-0212
Also known as
International titles
- Contra la paredES
- Contra a ParedeBR
- Head OnUS
- Duvara KarşıTR
- 미치고 싶을 때KR
- Mot väggenSE
- Mot veggenNO
- Назустріч стініUA
- Головою до стіниUA
