Close friends Janik (Emil von Schönfels) and Samuel (Mekyas Mulugeta) come from very different backgrounds but their bonded by their love and respect for one another. Janik comes from a middle-class family that have put everything in place to help him succeed, while Samuel has to deal with his addict mother. While high on drugs, Janik has sex with Samuel’s mother, which is witnessed by Samuel, and that causes the two boys to embark on a journey to find Samuel’s absent father. With the weight of Janik’s betrayal hanging over them, and unspoken feelings between the boys, the trip proves to be more enlightening that either expects.
‘Blurred Lines’ from director Ilker Çatak is essentially a coming-of-age film about two friends from very different walks of life. As with all adolescents, the boys aren’t as aware of their differences as other people are and they’re only really concerned with their friendship. Janik’s reckless actions threaten to jeopardise the relationship they have but their decision to travel to Istanbul together gives them the time they need to heal and move on. Once the boys get to Istanbul the power dynamic changes somewhat. Janik’s confidence dissolves as Samuel integrates into Turkish society with ease and he’s left feeling like the outsider. It’s a clever role reversal from where the two characters start in the film.
The film falters in a couple of places for me. Firstly there’s no attempt to unpack or explore the fact that Samuel’s mother has no qualms about having sex with a teenager. There was the potential here to look at how she abused her position to take advantage of Janik but that’s never delved into. Secondly, the film suggests that there may be more between Janik and Samuel than pure friendship but this isn’t really explored either save for a couple of dream sequences. It’s not clear if either boy has feelings for the other but the film does capture the fact they share a love, even if it is just platonic, that keeps them together.
Emil von Schönfels and Mekyas Mulugeta undeniably have chemistry together. Their characters have a shorthand with one another and you get the impression that it would take a lot to severe their bond, especially when Janik’s actions are swiftly forgiven (or forgotten). They have a tenderness together that convinces you of a real friendship that anchors both of their lives as they drift from one situation to another seemingly without a plan or any idea of what might happen next.
‘Blurred Lines’ doesn’t dig deep enough into any of its strands to really deliver the climax you’ll be expecting. Instead, it’s little more than a meandering look at friendship between two different boys who under other circumstances may not have even crossed paths. Writer Gabriele Simon wastes an opportunity to really sink his teeth into the weightier issues that the film flirts around, and that’s a real shame. The two leads are more than capable of deeper work and this script doesn’t do them the justice they deserve.
Cast: Emil von Schönfels, Mekyas Mulugeta, Katharina Behrens Director: Ilker Çatak Writers: Finn-Ole Heinrich (novel), Gabriele Simon (screenplay) Certificate: 18 Duration: 89 mins Released by: TLA Releasing Release date: 8th November 2021 Buy ‘Blurred Lines’ now
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