Pazar - Bir ticaret masali (2008)

Director:

Ben Hopkins

Writer:

Ben Hopkins (writer)

Release Date:

27 November 2008 (Germany)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A Turkish small time black marketeer wants to enter the cell phone business. To get enough money, he promises the local doctor to get medicine for sick children.

Awards:

6 wins

Cast

  (Credited cast)

Tayanç Ayaydin	...	Mihram
Genco Erkal	...	Fazil
Senay Aydin	...	Elif
Hakan Sahin	...	Mustafa
Rojîn Ulker	...	Singer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Övül Avkiran
Onur Ünsal

Also Known As:

Pazar - Der Markt (Germany)
The Market: A Tale of Trade (International: English title)

Runtime:

Germany:93 min | Argentina:93 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

Germany | Turkey | UK | Kazakhstan

Language:

Turkish

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

Argentina:13

Company:

Flying Moon Filmproduktion

I can get it for you wholesale…or less!

Seen in the World Tour sidebar at the 33rd Cleveland International Film Festival, this tells us of Mihram's efforts to upgrade his standing as an entrepreneur in mid-90's Turkey. He is a "procurer" of whatever people contract him for. In the first scene he has brought a man a cable to replace one recently stolen. Remarkably, the cable is the exact length required. The dawning that Mihram (who didn't do the stealing) is selling the man his own cable is a warm and funny introduction to the tale to follow. But he wants to set up a cell phone franchise, making him a legitimate merchant, and for that he'll need much more money.

An opportunity is presented to help a local doctor get needed medicines, available in neighboring Kazakhstan. This chance to improve his relationship with both God and his wife (and turn a large profit) leads Mihram on the story arc through the rest of his adventure. Deals are made, the local "mafia" is flouted, and an endearing Uncle is recruited to help with the smuggling.

There is a lot of humanity presented, with the characters well understood. Every interaction becomes a negotiation., whether over a card table or at a border checkpoint. The scenes of bartering are wonderfully reminiscent of watching any "relative from the old country" work their magic on a local merchant. All I will say about the reconcilement of the plot is that it is Indie: It makes some sense, it's a little unexpected and it's a bit ironic.