Chapter 10
Heating Up: Border Crossing and Identity Formation in Fatih Akin's In July (2000)
Charlotte Christina Fink
The German film In July (Im Juli), written and directed by Fatih Akin in 2000, is a romantic comedy that revolves around the developing romance between a young street vendor, Juli, and prospective teacher Daniel. In July is more than a mere love story, however, but vividly depicts the complex system and interplay of borders and border crossings on the European continent, and illustrates how they relate to identity formation in the ‘new Europe’ in the 21st century.
Applying theories of identity formation to the context of European borders, this chapter discusses the ways in which the borders and border crossings encountered by Juli and Daniel are linked to ‘real world’ European borderlines and borderlands, and the formation of a European identity in the 21st century.
Films discussed in Chapter 10:
In July. Directed by Fatih Akin. Germany, 2000.
Applying theories of identity formation to the context of European borders, this chapter discusses the ways in which the borders and border crossings encountered by Juli and Daniel are linked to ‘real world’ European borderlines and borderlands, and the formation of a European identity in the 21st century.
Films discussed in Chapter 10:
In July. Directed by Fatih Akin. Germany, 2000.
Trailer of the film In July (Source: YouTube)
About the author:
Charlotte Christina Fink holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in American cultural studies, English, the social sciences, and media studies from the Karl-Franzens-University Graz, Austria. Her main areas of academic interest include socio-cultural concepts of identity (particularly with regard to gender, age, culture, and ethnicity) along with communication, foreign languages, social structures, globalization, and popular culture. Fink is currently an independent scholar situated in her hometown of Graz.
Charlotte Christina Fink holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in American cultural studies, English, the social sciences, and media studies from the Karl-Franzens-University Graz, Austria. Her main areas of academic interest include socio-cultural concepts of identity (particularly with regard to gender, age, culture, and ethnicity) along with communication, foreign languages, social structures, globalization, and popular culture. Fink is currently an independent scholar situated in her hometown of Graz.