Birol Ünel

Actor

Birol Ünel, a German-Turkish actor born on August 18, 1961, in Silifke, Turkey, gained considerable acclaim for his powerful performances, often portraying deeply troubled characters. Ünel's breakout role came with "Dealer" (1999), directed by Thomas Arslan, for which he received critical acclaim. However, he is best known for his role in Fatih Akin's "Head-On" (2004), where he played the character Cahit Tomruk. His performance in "Head-On" earned him the German Film Award for Best Actor. Some other notable films include "In July" (2000), "Transylvania" (2006), and "Soul Kitchen" (2009), also directed by Fatih Akin. Ünel's intense and raw acting style left a lasting impression on European cinema until his death on September 3, 2020.

Films on Sooner

The Unpolished

2007

94 mins

Drama

All this 14-year-old wants is a 'normal' life, but that's not easy to come by given the lifestyle of her hippie parents.

Dealer

1999

72 mins

Crime, Drama

Life is governed by strict laws. If you don't want to fall out of favor with your backers as a dealer, you can't be seen with plainclothes cops.

Back to Nothing

2016

96 mins

Drama, Independent

With a mixture of horror and comedy, this morality tale tells the story of a group of urban nomads fleeing from demolition excavators.