Crossing the Bridge

The front rows of seats were all ripped out but that didn't stop moviegoers from enjoying the latest Film Club showing at Siamsa Tire on Sunday night.

Siamsa, which is undergoing a facelift to its auditorium, left the back three rows of seats for movie lovers and its popular Film Club which runs one Sunday night a month and screens films to its members.

The film, Crossing The Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul, is an intriguing documentary from German director, Fatih Akin, which takes us on a fascinating journey through the music scene in modern Istanbul, where East crashes into West and the past, present and future converge in a cornucopia of music styles from Rap to Rock via traditional Kurdish singing.

The documentary followed Alexander Hacke who set up his mobile recording studio to capture musical contributions from every genre of music while offering a tantalising view of Istanbul and the differing people that call it home.

Music fans found much of interest, I was particularly impressed with rapper Ceza who rattled off rhymes in an awesome stucatto style, like a preacher on speed or like he had swallowed an AK 47, but Crossing the Bridge had a far wider appeal. With a camera that rambled through Istanbul's streets and along its river, dipping in and out of buildings and alleyways, peering round corners, building up a beautifully filmed portrait of the cultural life of the city.

The next Film Club showing, Ballet Russes, is on Sunday, February 11th, at 8:00 p.m. in the newly refurbished Siamsa. Tickets are €6 and are available at the door.