Paper Lives
dir. Can Ulkay · 2021
True connection and compassion can transform lives and provide hope in the face of hardship.
Feature
Found Family
Mood
Melancholic / Contemplative
Look
gritty realism infused with warmth
Structure
character-centric with flashbacks
Plot
In the streets of Istanbul, ailing waste warehouse worker Mehmet takes a small boy under his wing and must soon confront his own traumatic childhood.
Why watch
"Paper Lives" is a poignant exploration of redemption and connection amidst the gritty backdrop of Istanbul, where a weary waste worker finds purpose and healing through an unexpected friendship with a young boy. This film invites viewers into the hidden layers of urban life, revealing the beauty in vulnerability and the power of found family.
Cultural context
urban poverty in Turkeydynamics of immigrant communitieschildhood traumaintergenerational relationships