An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker Trailer (2013)

Trailer for An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker.

Oscar®-winner Danis Tanović (No Man's Land) felt compelled to make this film after reading an article depicting the discrimination suffered by a Roma family in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Operating on a micro-budget, Tanović contacted the affected family, and convinced them to reenact the episode. The result is this extremely powerful film, which won the Jury Grand Prize and Best Actor prize at the Berlinale.

Nazif ekes out a living searching for and selling scrap metal. One day he returns home to discover his wife Senada is very ill; but without a state-provided health-insurance card, or enough money, Senada is refused treatment. The film follows the couple over the next 10 days, as Nazif does everything he can to save Senada's life. Shot in only nine days, and for under $25,000, this is urgent, humanist and very effective filmmaking.