Germany's Official Submission to the Best Foreign Language Film Category of the 80th Annual Academy Awards (2008).
The second entry in a proposed trilogy entitled "Liebe, Tod und Teufel" ("Love, Death and the Devil"). "Gegen die Wand" ("Head-On") was the first.
When the film was released to UK cinemas on the 22nd February 2008, it simultaneously became available on Sky Box Office, the UK's major cable TV provider. This represented the first time such a release took place, opening up new possibilities for foreign language films
which traditionally have problems getting distribution - to be seen by bigger audiences.
The role of Ali was written specially for veteran Turkish actor Tuncel Kurtiz.
Nurgül Yesilçay -- who is a big star in her native Turkey -- had doubts about taking on the part of Ayten as she wasn't sure how audiences would react to seeing her as a revolutionary lesbian.
Baki Davrak was cast very late into proceedings and subsequently missed Akin's standard three-week rehearsal period. To bring him up to speed, Akin took him on a trip to Turkey.
Shot in 44 days.
A whole subplot of Baki Davrak's character meeting an old flame and rekindling their romance was excised as it slowed the film down.
The book Nejat gives to his father is a Turkish translation of "Die Tochter des Schmieds" (The Blacksmith's Daughter) by Selim Özdogan. Selim Özdogan is a good friend of Fatih Akin.