An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker (Danis Tanovic, 2013): Bosnia and Herzegovina | France | Slovenia | Italy

Reviewed by Lori Panossian Viewed at AFI FEST 2013, LA.

This low budget movie was one of the most touching movies I saw during my five days at the AFI Fest 2013.

The story is about a man called Nasif (Nasif Mujic), that is an iron picker, and his family that lives in slum of Bosina&Herzegovina. Like that is not enough, his pregnant wife Senada (Senada Alimanovich) gets a miscarriage. With the already unstable economy and no insurance they now have a 980 mark bill to pay to get the operation that Senada needs. Nasif, the husband and father, quickly has to find a solution, or else Senada will die.
I didn’t know anything about the film when I walked in to the theater, and after watching the film, I asked myself if I just saw a documentary or an actual film. The plot combined with the cinematography gives you the feeling of a documentary. The camera that is mostly handheld, that shaky picture, increases the feeling of you being there, it basically gives you the third person-perspective. There is no external music, only diegetic sounds which in addition to the plot and cinematography also gives you the feeling of a documentary. The’re is a cold whitebalance during the whole film that makes you pity for them even more.
As I said before, this movie was indeed very touching. It makes you think about what you would do for the ones you love. I’ve never in my entire life felt more happy about being born and raised in Sweden where we have free health insurance.

 

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Published:
11.18.13 / 8pm
Category:
AFI Filmfest 2013, Films