Lia, a retired school teacher living in Georgia, has vowed to find her long-lost niece, Tekla. Young neighbour Achi accompanies Lia as her translator and together they travel to Istanbul. Exploring the hidden depths of the city, they cross paths with a civil-rights lawyer called Evrim, who offers to help, but is cautious; “…maybe people who come to Istanbul don’t want to be found…”

Director Levan Akin’s film is a compassionate story of hope, identity and forgiveness, and of overcoming the degrees of separation that divide us.

Mark says:
“Heading off to the big city to seek fame and fortune, or nowadays 3 years at Uni, are familiar rights of passage. But when a child goes missing without trace, the agony for parents is unimaginable.

Crossing tells another version of this story.

Tekla left home because life was unbearable, so she escaped to another country, but once we are immersed in the sights and sounds of Istanbul, many questions arise.
Why had the family made so little effort to find Tekla until now, and could Lia have been a better Auntie…

An absolute gem of a movie, filmed on the streets of Istanbul, Crossing was voted best film of 2024 by viewers on the Mubi platform.”

Reviews:

“Seductive, fragmented, involving.” Fionnuala Halligan, Screen International.

“A heartfelt exploration of identity and acceptance, highlighting the trans community in Istanbul. Mzia Arabuli delivers one of the year’s best performances.” Sara Clements, Next Best Picture.

“it’s a love letter to the commonalities between Georgian and Turkish culture; one that encourages empathy and reminds us it’s never too late to change for the better.” Hannah Strong, Little White Lies.