The three friends Ertan, Kemal and Mehdi live in Kiel. They are foreigners, "Kanaks", as they proudly call themselves. For them, this term is an expression of their attitude to life. The trio keeps their heads above water with small-time crooks, but over time they are drawn deeper and deeper into a maelstrom of violence and crime. On a whim, Erkan acts as the protector of two prostitutes and makes enemies of two unscrupulous pimps. After a failed robbery, Ertan ends up in prison for a short time and Kemal is deported to Turkey. However, the two proud "Kanaks" don't let this get them down, on the contrary: together, the friends now want to build a drug air bridge between Istanbul and Germany. But the dream of quick money ends in death and grief for Kemal and Ertan.
Acting
Haluk Piyes owns every frame as wounded pride incarnate.
Direction
Becker captures Kiel's gray urgency with documentary grit.
Writing
Dialogue that bites—slang-heavy, poetic, unapologetically specific.
Director
Lars Becker
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
'Kanak' was reclaimed from slur to badge of honor in 90s German hip-hop; this film captures that movement's raw edge before it went mainstream.
Haluk Piyes won Best Actor at German Film Awards for this—his prison monologue reportedly filmed in one take.
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