Kurz und Schmerzlos (Short Sharp Shock)

With actors Mehmet Kurtulus, Aleksandar Jovanovic, Adam Bousdoukos, Regula Grauwiller
Available on DVD in Germany

German-born Turk Faith Akin directed this German crime drama about three friends in Hamburg. Released from prison, Turk Gabriel (Mehmet Kurtulus) is ready for a new start on life. Greek Costa (Adam Bousdoukos) goes with Gabriel’s sister Ceyda (Idil Uner). Serb Bobby (Aleksandar Jovanovic) annoys his girlfriend Alice (Regula Grauwiller) by doing jobs for crazed Albanian mobster Muhamer (Ralph Herforth), so Alice turns to Gabriel for comfort. Gabriel hopes to retire to Turkey and open a seaside restaurant. When Costa also joins Muhamer’s gang, Gabriel intervenes to save his friends, an action which puts his own future at risk. Shown in competition at the 1998 Locarno Film Festival.

Links: IMDB, Film Portal, The New York Times