An Istanbul-set odd-couple story, Crossing marks the latest film by Swedish filmmaker Levan Akin (And Then We Danced). Opening in Batumi, it follows Georgian ex-schoolteacher Lia (Mzia Arabuli) as she prepares to head to the Turkish capital and find her estranged niece, Tekla (Tako Kurdovanidze). But who with? ‘She’s childless. She never was married. And then she has to go to Istanbul,’ states Akin. ‘And then I’m thinking, if she goes alone to Istanbul, we don’t find out so much about her until she gets there. So she needs someone to go with. Who is interesting?’

Accompanying her is an enthusiastic ex-pupil Achi (Lucas Kankava), who claims to know where Tekla is; a search that will ultimately take them into the city’s transgender neighbourhood. Pairing up his two leads was a match made in heaven. ‘She’s amazing; I love her so much. And he’s amazing. And they became friends in the film. She was a little irritated with him in real life too, because he has a lot of energy. And he asked a lot of questions and she just wants to be left alone!’

As much as it’s an exploration of identity and community, Akin also ‘wanted to make a tribute to empathy and solidarity’, he says. ‘There are small moments in the film such as when she fixes the boy’s collar. And she says “close your jacket, because it’s cold”. Those moments move me.’ He also calls it ‘a love letter to Istanbul’ given that Akin grew up visiting the city every summer with his family. ‘Istanbul is always changing, so you go there one month and then you go back and it’s like, “oh, what’s this building?” It’s a crazy but fantastic place. And I really wanted to capture it in this film.’ 

Crossing is in cinemas from Friday 19 July.