Beyto *** (2020, Burak Ates, Dimitri Stapfer, Ecem Aydin, Beren Tuna) – Classic Movie Review 12,361

The two leading actors in Beyto (2020 are Burak Ates (right) and Dimitri Stapfer.

Burak Ates stars as 19-year-old Turkish immigrant boy Beyto, a Swiss swim team champ and apprentice in his parents’ kebab shop. When Beyto falls for his cocky, openly gay coach Mike (Dimitri Stapfer), the upset parents plot to marry their son off back in Turkey.

The charming, compassionate and thoughtful 2020 Swiss gay romantic drama Beyto stars Burak Ates, Dimitri Stapfer, Ecem Aydin and Beren Tuna, and is written and directed by Gitta Gsell, based on Yusuf Yesilöz’s novel Hochzeitsflug. It premiered on 25 September 2020 as part of the 16th Zurich Film Festival.

it tells an impactful, relevant and vibrant story, tackling the twin topics of its young hero Beyto’s search for identity and the incompatible social and cultural clash between modern European society and more traditional Turkish society. It is realised with warm, appealing performances, and it is expertly handled, moving swiftly along its busy, lively 98 minutes. Actually, more running time would be good.

Burak Ates stars alluringly as handsome 19-year-old Turkish immigrant boy Beyto, a Swiss swim team champ, number one in his computer class and apprentice in his parents’ kebab shop. Beyto falls for his cocky, openly gay coach Mike (Dimitri Stapfer) and his parents find out after he rashly and impulsively joins Mike on a gay pride march. The shocked and ashamed parents then plot to lure their son home to their Turkish home village on the pretext of seeing his dying grandmother but actually to marry him off to his childhood friend, the lovely innocent young girl Seher (Ecem Aydin). Dithering, out of his depth, conflicted and conscience stricken, Beyto has to choose between the swim coach boy and his arranged marriage Turkish wife.

[Spoiler alert] It’s not looking good for any of the three main characters, But, against all expectations, it has a happy ending! But it is quite a gritty ride along the way, with some powerful moments in excellently written scenes and dialogue. The indecisive Beyto is lovely, and Ates makes him a heart-breaker. You want to cheer him on. The Mike character is a bit under-characterised, and disappears from the movie throughout the long, involving segment in Turkey, but Stapfer makes him sympathetic and credible. Seher stays sympathetic too, which seems impossible, as she’s the character getting in the way of the two boys’ happiness. The parents, on the other hand, are fully explained but largely unforgiven. They try their best to wreck their son’s life but not respecting or accepting him. The kids have got to run away from their parents and their traditions, and get the hell out of Dodge.

What is most admirable in the script here is its honest and detailed exploration of the challenges and complexities of being a gay immigrant from a homophobic culture, along with its hints that Switzerland might not be the right home for him either. Beyto’s journey is a difficult one, but his brilliantly good nature and warm heart will guide him. Here’s a great gay hero. Is the ending improbable? The three characters and the actors make you believe in it. You know you want to, anyway.

The music is composed by Ben Jeger. Peter Guyer is the cinematographer, and it is edited by Bernhard Lehner.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,361

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