Starring: Nazim Mujic, Senada Allmanovic, Sandra Mujic
Living in poverty in a small isolated town, Nazim makes his living by taking apart cars and selling the scraps. At home, his wife Senada suffers a miscarriage and is taken to see a doctor. With no insurance, Nazim is told he will have to pay for Senada's treatment but has no means for paying the large amount of money that could save her life.
In cinematic terms, Bosnia and Herzegovina's presence is often a modest one. It's rare that films from that part of the world get any kind of a showcase, but An Episode In The Life Of An Iron Picker has picked up acclaim at the Berlin Film Festival and was put forward for Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards. Whilst the film makes for a rare depiction of Bosnia and Herzegovina in film, it doesn't make up for the lack of exposure with extravagance. In fact, this film is very stripped back and simple.
Director Danis Tanovic goes very much for realism in the film. Our characters, their lives and their surroundings are far from glamorous. Much of the action is captured on the move with just a simple set up and the small cast simply shares the names of the actors playing the parts. It's jarringly realistic with emotions being almost completely downplayed and quiet, though clearly speaking volumes about their environment.
As our main character, Nazim has an axe to grind. He lives a life of little financial means, the medical and political bureaucracy standing in his way and is dealing with other issues, such as the violent war-related death of his brother but all his angst is represented quietly. Even Senada, his wife, is rarely shown in agony as it's traditionally portrayed in cinema. Instead, she seems almost tired and apathetic, almost losing the will to live (understandable, given the circumstances).
It's an acquired taste, and the film's heavy reliance on elements of Bosnian society and history mean that the themes and ideas of that the film presents probably won't have the smae impact as it will on Bosnians or those with a knowledge of the area. The film is also very short (75 minutes in all) but even so, the film's main plot ends about fifteen minutes before the credits with a separate story about the small town losing electricity having to be resolved. It fits the plot thematically, but it's unusual. At the end of the day, An Episode In The Life Of An Iron Picker will certainly not be everyone's cup of tea. But those susceptible to its barebones approach will probably find it a rewarding watch.
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