Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul (2005)

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General		Extras
Category	Documentary	Theatrical Trailer Music Video Featurette-Under the Bridge Featurette-Shaving Hacke Featurette-Beyoglu Nights Trailer
Rating
Year Of Production	2005
Running Time	90:09 (Case: 130)
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Fatih Akin
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	Alexander Hacke Baba Zula Orient Expressions Duman Replikas Erkin Koray Ceza Istanbul Style Breakers MercanDede Selim Sesler Brenna MacCrimmon Siyasiyabend Orhan Gencebay
Case	Amaray-Transparent
RPI	$29.95	Music	None Given

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	German Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s) German Dolby Digital 2.0 (224Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.85:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	1.85:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

    Crossing the Bridge is a comprehensive sound guide of the city of Istanbul, encompassing traditional Turkish music as well as the more modern western influenced styles. Far from being just a dry examination of the various elements and cultures it is a vibrant and engaging insight into the city and the Turkish ethos.

If I were to select a guide for a musical journey of this type my first choice probably wouldn't be Alexander Hacke. After all, as bassist and founder of legendary industrial noise outfit Einsturzende Neubauten (which also spawned Bad Seed guitarist Blixa Bargeld) he pioneered the combination of scary rhythms, discordant guitars and the use of angle grinders and other power tools for ambience! As it turns out the bear-like hirsute Hacke is no amateur musicologist. He is an excellent guide, clearly capturing the passion and the core of the music whether it be traditional and sorrowful or modern and raucous.

The film came about as a collaboration between Turkish Director Fatih Akin and Hacke. They had previously worked on the marvellous Head On as Hacke travelled to Istanbul to create some music for the Turkish scenes in the film. Both men were inspired by the vibrancy and passion of the local music. Hacke jumped at the chance to return and gathered together his recording equipment to capture the real sounds of the city.

Anyone with even casual interest in World Music will find this a fascinating documentary. As it happens Turkey had an incredible diversity of music. Although some have embraced elements of the west, such as the grunge influenced Replikas the music has been transformed by a city which several participants say is a bridge between east and west.

The documentary is wide ranging. Hacke begins with neo-psychedelic bank Baba Zula and ends with one of the greatest stars of Turkish music Sezen Aksu who has combined a beautiful singing voice with pop elements to create minor super stardom in Turkey.

In between are some amazing performers. There is the first Turkish rocker, Ekin Koray, still axing away after 40 years and an amazing rapper who spits out lyrics at a rate that rivals Busta Rhymes. Interestingly, he says that the growing hip hop scene in Turkey is more obsessed with political themes than the gangsta ideas of the west.

Hacke seems to have met some of his performers just walking down the street and there are some amazing passionate musicians busking in downtown Istanbul. He even manages to coax legendary actor and traditional Turkish musician Orphan Genebay to play live.

At times Hacke is not a mere observer. Being a talented musician he is able to fill in on an instrument where needed. Even when simply recording he is often to be found dancing or swaying to the rhythm of the music. The documentary is not narrated in a traditional sense. It seems to just flow organically from one sound to another.

What makes Crossing the Bridge transcend ordinary travelogues and musical guides is the real feeling of a powerful musical culture that has suffered strictures in the past but has endured and flourished.

Video

    Crossing the Bridge comes to DVD in a 1.85:1 transfer which is consistent with its original cinematic aspect ratio. It is 16 x 9 enhanced.

The film was shot on digital camera. The results are generally pleasing and no one could be disappointed with the quality of the image. In general the blacks and colours are well defined, clear and vibrant. There is very little noise or compression issues and there are no problems with the original digital master.

The only problem is edge enhancement on the skyline shots. Its not too disturbing but it is noticeable. There is also some aliasing on the usual suspects such as grilles and a few neon lights.

Overall, however, this is a pleasing transfer.

Video Ratings Summary

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Audio

    The sound for Crossing the Bridge is Dolby Digital 5.1 running at 448Kb/s.

In a documentary like this the music is of high importance. Fortunately, Hacke has utilised good quality recording equipment with each performer. Even the street performers are given a full dynamic range. The mix is expansive and very pleasing.

The joy of the film is that we are able to appreciate the delicate breathy vocals of a Kurdish singer delivering a tragic dirge as well as modern rock influenced musicians banging out loud tunes.

The dialogue is mainly in German (Hacke's native language) as well as Turkish and also some English.. It seems to be captured fairly well. Audio sync appears perfect.

Music is the constant undercurrent of the film and enthusiasts will probably want to rush out and buy the sound track.

If there is a criticism it is that Hacke has mixed the bass up quite high on a few tunes (particularly where he is playing bass) which has caused the sub-woofer to work overtime and overpower the other sounds. Otherwise the rear speakers don't get much action.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Theatrical Trailer 1.39

A short but compelling introduction to the film.

Music Videos 16.01

Six music videos are included here. They range from the slick look and sound of Sezen Aksu through the rock of the Replikas to the flat out weirdness of two clips by Baba Zula.

Featurette Under the Bridge 40.37

This featurette is subtitled The B-Side of Istanbul and that pretty much sums it up. This is a lengthy series of out takes featuring various musicians from the film. There are also some characters who didn't make it into the final cut. It does give a more coherent guide to the history of alternative music in Turkey over the last thirty years and is hosted by a local enthusiast. His comments are interesting and it is with some regret that when he finds his beer empty he decides it is time to call it a night.

This feature is not 16x9 enhanced and is in 2.0 only but it is still perfectly acceptable.

Featurette Beyoglu Nights 4.32

A series of still images backed by some mesmerizing music by the Harem Band. Beyoglu is the original downtown of Istanbul. Originally it was a part of town that only the mad, bad and dangerous visited but it is now the thriving hub of modern music in the city.

Featurette Shaving Hacke 19.10

The title is fairly accurate. Hacke goes into a barber in Germany and talks about his experiences working on the film and the concert that Einsturzende Neubauten played for the slightly bemused locals. It goes into a bit of detail about that band (extending music until there is no music left !) and Hackes' interest in global music.

Trailers Madman Propaganda

Trailers for three Madman musical releases: Favela Rising, LoudQuietLoud- A Film About The Pixies and Meredith Music Festival.

  The Region 1 version appears to contain no extras whereas the Region 2 UK version has the soundtrack for the film included as an extra disc but otherwise no additional extras. It is a weigh up for the price of buying the DVD and the soundtrack separately in Region 4 as opposed to shipping it over from the UK.

    Crossing the Bridge is an engaging insight into the music of Istanbul expertly guided by the passionate hands of Alexander Hacke.

The video quality is exactly what one would expect from a fairly low budget documentary although generally it is very pleasing. The audio transfer is also quite good.

The extras are comprehensive and engaging.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall