Crossing Review: Emotional Istanbul Journey in Search of Estranged Trans Niece

The film’s title carries a heavy sense of melancholy, and the ending feels somewhat stylized, reminiscent of the finishing touches seen in Florian Zeller’s film The Son . Despite this, Crossing is an intelligent, emotionally engaging, and well-acted film directed by Levan Akin, the Georgian-Swedish filmmaker who gained international acclaim four years ago with And Then We Danced .

In this movie, Georgian actor Mzia Arabuli plays Lia, a retired, unmarried history teacher known for her dignity and high standards. Lia is on a mission to locate her missing niece, Tekla, a trans woman who has crossed the border into Turkey and may now be in Istanbul. Lia had promised Tekla’s dying mother that she would find and bring her home. The quest begins when Lia receives a lead on Tekla’s whereabouts from Achi (Lucas Kankava), a young man who resembles a young Keith Moon and is the idle younger brother of one of her former students. Eager for adventure, Achi convinces Lia to let him accompany her to the big city, leading this odd pair to Istanbul.

Once in Istanbul, Akin interweaves Lia and Achi’s story with those of two young street kids and a trans woman played by Deniz Dumanli. The trans woman, involved in sex work, volunteers at an LGBTQ+ community center. This intersection prompts the audience to question if this character is who Lia seeks or if there’s a metaphorical layer to consider. The film’s title, Crossing, encompasses the physical journey, gender transition, and more profoundly, a transformation of mind and heart.

Three outstanding performances anchor the film: Arabuli as Lia, Kankava as Achi, and Dumanli as the trans woman. Each actor, under Akin’s adept direction, crafts distinct characters that mesh together seamlessly, despite differences in age and outlook.

The film also grapples with a poignant question: why does Lia feel compelled to find Tekla, an adult who may not be in any immediate danger? The unsettling answer lies within Lia herself; perhaps, it is she who seeks forgiveness and needs to be found.

• Crossing is in UK and Irish cinemas from 19 July and on Mubi from 30 August.