The second feature in German Films for Young People programme series, as part of Max Mueller Bhavan’s initiative to provide local diaspora and film buffs glimpses into contemporary German society, comes in the form of Elephant Heart. 

The ‘Turkish-German’ film also provides fascinating insider perspective into the complex picture of everyday reality of young Turks in Germany.

Directed by Turkey born freelance film-maker Zueli Aladag, Elephant Heart (English subtitles), his first feature, chronicles the trials and tribulations of a low social class born boy from Duisburg who seeks to come to terms with himself and the background he comes from (an alcholic, abusive father) by turning into a professional boxer.

As in the Hollywood genre of boxing films, the sport once again provides a means of escaping from a depressing social environment.

Zuli Aladag’s familiarity with his great precursors, including Scorsese’s Raging Bull.

“Once you’re in, you gotta win,” is the credo which drives Marco coming from a broken family and living in the ugly suburban environment, into the pugilist ring.  Propelled by his past, Marco pushes himself onto a roller coaster of violence and crime.

Never left with much chance, his struggle for survival, sees him signing a deal to become a professional boxer. From then on his life is never the same again.

Thanks to the pressures and problems at home, and ventilate the uncommon rage bursting like a volcano in him, he tries to work up this anger in boxing. But it doesn’t work, for he has no control over himself. The world he wants to wish away haunts him as a constant reminder which turns him into a steamroller.

Initially, his spars in blind anger, but as he learns to deal with his feelings both inside and outside the ring, he changes into somebody, who uses his head and fights tactically. Thereby, he learns to win for himself and not fight against something.

As Zuli Aladag observes of the film: “I wanted to tell a coming-of-age-story about somebody who has to find out who he is and how he manages to go his way in life.  In addition to this the father-son-conflict was very exciting for me.”

The film will be screened on Friday at 6.30 pm.

It has been organised at the Max Mueller Bhavan, 716 CMH Road, Indiranagar 1st Stage.

For details: 25205305/06/07/08. Entry free.