Offside

Director:  Reyan Tuvi
2011, Turkey, 50’56’’, color
African languages, Turkish, English with Turkish subtitles

Offside is the story of two young, undocumented African immigrants who left their country to come to Turkey hoping to be successful as football players. The paths of Taju and Rachid, who are both Nigerian, cross in İstanbul. While Taju (TJ) dreams of becoming a member of a 3rd league football team, he spends his days working to make a living in a small barber shop in Kumkapı, a district where many illegal immigrants from different countries live. Rachid (Ade) who unlike Taju has come to the realization that he will not be able to reach his goal as a football player in Turkey, tries to find ways to go to Europe, to join his English girlfriend Diane whom he has met on the internet. Their plans are suddenly shattered when their teammate Okute (Festus Okey) is killed under police custody; this event leaves them with many questions about the future.  As their shared passion for football brings them closer, it also drifts them apart. Eventually each chooses his own way...

Click for screening times.