Beyto

In this flick, we see a clash of cultures...conservative Islamic versus Western liberal. Beyto, a manly, muscly gay, young Turk living in Switzerland is forced to conform to Islamic family values. He gets married, but not without a strong resistance. Mike, his German boyfriend isn't very understanding and acts irrationally, cruelly and inappropriately towards Beyto after he returns, with wife in tow, to Switzerland. At that point, the audience loses any interest in Mike and wishes Beyto would find a worthy boyfriend. We are handed an unconventional ending, whereby everyone seems to be satisfied.....but for how long?

Good acting and script, but found weakness in Mike' character.

There have been quite a few LGBT themed films regarding characters of Turkish root (from the cult classic 'Lola and the Billy the Kid' to more recent 'Wo willst du hin, Habibi'). So the basic drama is nothing new at all. The difference here is how the characters stuck in the situation make compromises and find a way to look for a better future. Another positive note is none of the characters - Beyto's parents who forces their son to an arranged marriage, Beyto's bride, his boy friend and Beyto himself - are either demonized or victimized.

But this positive note is ultimately unconvincing, not only because it's bit unrealistic but more so because the delivery is weak. The acting, script and editing are all bit rough around the edge and loose that it feels more like a TV drama than a feature film, where things has to be kept much tighter given the limited run-time. It is most obvious with the ending. Just a scene ago, everybody was a tortured soul and the gap between them still much to wide, and then we're suddenly thrown with all smile, all sunny and blue water last scene, where everything suddenly looks positive. I can't dismiss the feeling something's missing inbetween, and frankly there were quite a few moments I felt that way through out the film.

It's a good effort, worth a watch and I'm looking forward to more of such positive looking films in the future... but I hope it could be more in a polished presentation.

The first scenes had me worried about clichés of gay film, but 20 min in the plot becomes more about cultural differences.

And then the plot had me so enthralled and the story was so suspenseful I couldn't stop watching. Great film, worth a watch!

The film centres around a culture crash, between living in Turkey (west) and Switzerland (east), in regard to homosexuality, forced marriage, and cultural peer pressure/oppression.

The script has some flaws, and isn't deep, but is enjoyable and still relevant and thought-provoking.

The scenes are pleasantly shot and transmit some authenticity, specially the scenes in Turkey.

The main actors are attractive, although there was some lack of skill amongst the cast, which left me concerned earlier, but it did improve. Although only a few characters get some development/growth, we do get to see their background, which can lead to some understanding on their views.

One of the parts I enjoyed the most was also the soundtrack, as the music is good, without crashing into pop stereotypes, and is very well applied to the scenes, amplifying the culture differences.

A sort of patchwork. Two young men, very different, mates , in love. Two different cultures. A wedding. And the challenges front to the young men. A nice film, first for the effort to convince but remaining a work made with patches , each patch being more interesting alone, more than as part of a film who looks for demonstrate too much. One of nice virtues - the work of Ecem Aydin as Seher. Maybe, the end , to But, sure, a love/ coming out film careful crafted than defines Beyto as decent one.