The name Ken Loach is not rarely mentioned when new, social realist film directors are being pigeonholed, but in the case of 'When We Leave' and its female director Feo Aladag, the comparison for once seems justified. We might well be in Berlin's Turkish milieu, but the energy of this social study is completely in the spirit of the British auteur. The young Umay lives in Turkey with her husband and her small son Cem, but looks for refuge with her family in Germany, when her husband's heavy-handed treatment gets too much. She hopes to find understanding and a sanctuary, but is instead met by a wall of religion and rigid traditions. In her attempt to tear herself loose from her suppressed position, the situation gets worse, as her entire family turns its back on her. Even though a central topic of the film is patriarchal conservatism, all the characters are depicted as human beings - for better or for worse. With a solid anchoring in the protagonist Umay and her dilemma, one holds ones breath as a protagonist throughout the entire gripping drama. Sibel Kekilli, who also played the lead role in Fatih Akin's 'Head-On', delivers a sterling performance as Umay, and the film is a true study in candid realism. This video was posted to Cphpix Copenhagen Film Festival's official website at: cphpix.dk Original title: Die Fremde Germany, 2009, 119 min. English subtitles No further screenings planned. Director: Feo Aladag Script: Feo Aladag Camera: Judith Kaufmann Sound: Max Richter <b>...</b>