PODCAST | Francesco Belais interviews Tor Iben, director of the film Where Are You Going, Habibi? from the 31st Torino Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.

To listen to the interview, click on the ► icon on the right, just above the picture of the film

Coming out in a very conservative Turkish family based in Berlin and the impossible love with a handsome straight guy. This is the story of Ibrahim, the main carachter in the new Tor Iben‘s film, which screened at the 31st Torino Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING, HABIBI (Wo willst du hin, Habibi?): Ibrahim, called Ibo, is a good guy born into a Turkish family in Berlin and he has just finished a degree in architecture. Since he is gay, he has troubles talking about his sexual identity at home, where a strong traditional mentality rules. The only person who is helping him in the process of self-affirmation is his intellectual, open-minded uncle. When Ibo meets handsome blonde muscly wrestler Ali who, in his spare time, is a thief, a sincere and complicit relationship begins. In spite of his much vaunted heterosexuality, Ali seems to be interested in Ibo’s attentions.

A Berlin “ballad” filled with grace and a sweet virility, which go hand in hand with a cosmopolitan, breezy, multicultural city. In the finale, bulletten, the typical Berlin meatballs, play an important role. This is the second film for director Tor Iben, who debuted at the 2011 TGLFF with Cibrâil.