There are German films that aren't relationship comedies or delve into recent history. This film is a gangster melodrama, set in the Turkish community of Hamburg Altona. We care about the fates of the colourful, not-always-do-goods, emphasise with their struggle against the life they live. KURZ UND SCHMERZLOS manages to reach a rare quality: it feels "real".

"Kurz und schmerzlos" means as much as "quickly and smoothly" and is a German underground drama by young Turkish film maker Fatih Akin. Shot in the suburbs and industrial area of Hamburg, Akin's home town, it was a big hit in German repertory cinemas in 1999.

The film shows the life and fate of three young foreigners - Turk Gabriel, Greek Costa and Serb Bobby, all of them dreaming of love and money in the bleak surroundings of social welfare, crimes, industry, unemployment and cultural minorities. Of course it won't take long until the friendship of the three outsiders is about to break apart when Gabriel becomes a henchman for a local gangster boss, and a journey through violence and despair begins for all three of them...

There are no special effects, no visual games, there is just pure "adrenaline acting" - except for Ralf Herforth ("Knocking on Heaven's Door") as gangster boss Muhamer, all actors are unknown newcomers, but with a great impact and brilliant performances. There is much realistic violence in it than can be felt in every second, and you really need to watch out for some contemporary American or Japanese underground stuff to find something similar. And the sound track is very good, too.

But the movie shows also the social milieu and the problems of national minorities in a Western country like in the works of British film maker Hanif Kureishi ("My Beautiful Laundrette"). Watch out for this example for great contemporary German cinema, and although "Kurz und schmerzlos" avoids all the visual styling of "Lola rennt", it has the same impact and power like that international box office hit!

I watched this flick on TV. It was a Hamburg special night and I didn't expect much but after ten or twenty minutes I was totally into the film. Usually when I watch a German gangster film it just tries to copy the American model which doesn't make much sense since crime in America is completely different from crime in Germany. This flick however had this realistic touch to it and I definitely enjoyed the authenticity of the characters and I admired all three of the main protagonists for playing their parts so well. Especially the Turkish character seemed so realistic to me that I can only think of him as a small time crook now, even when I see him in other films. I believe that this is Akin's best film so far, I watched GEGEN DIE WAND as well but I can't say that I enjoyed it more. However, it is a real pity that we don't have more German directors who can deliver such good work as Akin did. If only there were more directors who know how to create atmosphere as well as Akin. Kudos, Faith!