Or may I also say Hector Babenco - the author of PIXOTE - the Brazilian masterpiece speaking of poverty, ghettos and the urban jungle where it is a terrible struggle to survive. The most painful in watching this kind of feature is to think that there are tons of them which remain under the radar of the distributors and other festivals. Thanks to Netflix to release them. This movie is however a bit smoother than PIXOTE, though remaining very dark and gloomy. I also found a tiny relation between this film and Fritz Lang's MOONFLEET, because of the adult child relationship, a touching and poignant line for this unforgettable film. But maybe this is a bit too artificial, destined to make audiences weep. But that's my own opinion and that doesn't remove anything from this movie, that could have taken place in Mexico or any Central America country, where poverty spreads like a plague.
147 Reviews
Great!
dehakilickaya12 March 2021
This film broke me. It accurately depicts the living conditions of Istanbul's street life while wonderfully conveying the sorrow of the heartbreaking drama of a man who earns his life collecting trash. The acting and soundtracks were also amazing.
One of the best Turkish films I've watched lately. Would definitely recommend; it's worth your time.
And the ending my god...
6/10.
One of the best Turkish films I've watched lately. Would definitely recommend; it's worth your time.
And the ending my god...
6/10.
Very good attempt
arulnachan19 March 2021
The search for mom goes on. Vivid streets of Istanbul teeming with lost kids and loving guardians.
JohnDeSando13 March 2021
"They say that abandonment is a wound that never heals. I say only that an abandoned child never forgets." Mario Balotelli
Netflix takes us to the streets of Istanbul, Struggle Alley (!) as they call the area, in a neo-realist melodrama, Paper Lives, about child abandonment and love that knows no bounds. The paradox comes true as Mehmet (Cagatay Ulusoy), a solid waste warehouse owner and dumpster diver meets a homeless 9-year-old, Ali, and nurtures him with an intensity as if he were the boy himself.
Although Mehmet says he's concerned to find Ali's mother, he enfolds him like his own child with the self-knowledge that Mehmet himself had been abandoned. Although the psycho trauma of those involved in abandonment is apparent from the beginning, director Can Ulkay intersperses the claustrophobic with images of freedom and joy, such as Mehmet teaching Ali to swim or the two racing the streets pulling carts and picking up discarded paper and bottles. Paper Lives has little of Slumdog Millionaire's romance and none of Annie's unreal color, but these street urchin stories tug at the heart nonetheless. Around the world, the search of mom is a common theme, even in our superhero fantasies.
Although waste picking may seem about as darkly realistic as city slums could get, Mehmet's exuberance and his love for Ali make it seem like a holiday. However, spectral images of mothers and Ali's urge to return to his mother keep a tension that mitigates the boredom of their work.
As if being motherless were not enough, the film shows Mehmet suffering from a debilitating kidney problem and Ali hallucinating about photos where he mistakenly sees himself with his mother when Mehmet is the subject. The film has complicating layers such as the confusion of Mehmet as Ali that enhance the figurative embodiment of the two being one and the same. As a study in Turkish slums, Paper Lives is stark if not a bit over the top; as a testimony to the importance of stable family life, it soars. On Netflix
Netflix takes us to the streets of Istanbul, Struggle Alley (!) as they call the area, in a neo-realist melodrama, Paper Lives, about child abandonment and love that knows no bounds. The paradox comes true as Mehmet (Cagatay Ulusoy), a solid waste warehouse owner and dumpster diver meets a homeless 9-year-old, Ali, and nurtures him with an intensity as if he were the boy himself.
Although Mehmet says he's concerned to find Ali's mother, he enfolds him like his own child with the self-knowledge that Mehmet himself had been abandoned. Although the psycho trauma of those involved in abandonment is apparent from the beginning, director Can Ulkay intersperses the claustrophobic with images of freedom and joy, such as Mehmet teaching Ali to swim or the two racing the streets pulling carts and picking up discarded paper and bottles. Paper Lives has little of Slumdog Millionaire's romance and none of Annie's unreal color, but these street urchin stories tug at the heart nonetheless. Around the world, the search of mom is a common theme, even in our superhero fantasies.
Although waste picking may seem about as darkly realistic as city slums could get, Mehmet's exuberance and his love for Ali make it seem like a holiday. However, spectral images of mothers and Ali's urge to return to his mother keep a tension that mitigates the boredom of their work.
As if being motherless were not enough, the film shows Mehmet suffering from a debilitating kidney problem and Ali hallucinating about photos where he mistakenly sees himself with his mother when Mehmet is the subject. The film has complicating layers such as the confusion of Mehmet as Ali that enhance the figurative embodiment of the two being one and the same. As a study in Turkish slums, Paper Lives is stark if not a bit over the top; as a testimony to the importance of stable family life, it soars. On Netflix
Lazy screen writing, brilliant leading actor
hikarohiro26 April 2021
Çagatay Ulusoys performance is brilliant, but the plot was written a little bit lazy. Also saw the plot twist coming after half of the movie, but it didn't really help the story. The colors and settings were also not really supporting the sad tale about this poor people, would have been a 6/10 for me, but the actors were all great, and as I mentioned before, Çagatay Ulusoy should get an Oscar for his great acting.
Moving
harshada_shewale16 March 2021
What a Sad Story
Movi3DO24 March 2021
A brand new Turkish drama on Netflix. The story was about Mehmet, who lived in an impoverished Istanbul town and ran a business of picking cardboards with his boys. One day, he met an 8-year-old runaway boy, and his life changed.
What I liked the most was the relationship between Mehmet and the kid. The montages between them were a bit cheesy, but they still make me care for both of the characters.
The story was quite depressing and serious. It depicted the lives of poor kids who had to survive without parents, and faced risks of substance abuse. Even worse, these kids all wanted to see their mothers, who had to abandon them for various reasons like domestic abuse.
The twist that came at the end was just heartbreaking and sad. It was quite sudden, but made sense considering the build up.
Overall, a good looking yet depressing movie. 7.5/10
What I liked the most was the relationship between Mehmet and the kid. The montages between them were a bit cheesy, but they still make me care for both of the characters.
The story was quite depressing and serious. It depicted the lives of poor kids who had to survive without parents, and faced risks of substance abuse. Even worse, these kids all wanted to see their mothers, who had to abandon them for various reasons like domestic abuse.
The twist that came at the end was just heartbreaking and sad. It was quite sudden, but made sense considering the build up.
Overall, a good looking yet depressing movie. 7.5/10
GREAT MOVIE
saralouro18 March 2021
Greetings from Portugal :)
Loved the movie and I cried a lot. But its impossible not to do so. How can anyone see this movie without getting emotional? This movie was so intense and sad. We could feel Mehmet pain :( But, I loved it anyway. I love the director and the main actor. Çagatay was incredible. All the cast were. The storyline is great. It´s a harsh but true picture of the cruel situation of many street children around the world :(
Everyone involved in this project is to be congratulated :)
Almost an amazing movie, but why ruin it?
jscaccabarrozzi20 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The film was about to become my favourite movie of the year. The actor from the leading role is fantastic, the script drove you as it wanted, it was kind of original, good execution. In summary, almost a fantastic movie.
Spoilers: But they had to make a dull plot twist at the end. I suppose the intention was to make it more profitable. The ending was so dissapointing I actually got angry because I felt they stole a great movie from me. Why this commercial endings? Yes, I'm writing this review just after finishing the movie, so I may be overexagerating, but I still do think the ending was gratitious (gratuito, no sé cómo se escribe). They ruined the story in 10 minutes. However, let's celebrate what needs to be appraised; besides that ending, the movie is amazing, and the actor from the leading role never stumbles.
An unbearable mess
inschlopen27 June 2021
The movie starts off well and has excellent photography, but within minutes it begins to turn into an excruciating tear-jerker soap opera. It's one of those movies that you can only watch "from the outside", without getting into the story, so that you can at least enjoy it with the involuntary humor that emanates from the over-acted characters and the terrible flaws of a script as poor and simple as that of a Mexican soap opera. Not even the final twist saves this mediocre and perfectly forgettable work. Three points for cinematography and some of the songs.
Best movie in 2021 👍👍👍
alzaytooon17 March 2021
5
Edvis-199713 March 2021
Not my favorite one. It was pretty boring and bland, acting was okay at it best. At the beginning it got my attention and I though ohh it's going to be good movie. Well, it wasn't at all. From 30 minutes till the end there's no plot at all. Ending didn't make sense. Twisted ending was added just to get more attention but it doesn't explain plot. Average Turkish film. I see all those reviews with 9-10 from Turkish people, come on, grow up, look at it objective not subjective.
paper lives
nazaar-6626013 March 2021
And what an outcome, what an outcome !!!
RosanaBotafogo19 May 2021
Sweet, angelic, sensitive, exciting, passionate, delicate... Emir Ali Dogrul's performance is fantastic, painful scenes, stupendous, Çagatay Ulusoy also delivered an impeccable and intense, visceral performance ... Beautiful photography, referring to playfulness and poetry, contrasting with the poor and dirty reality of the scavengers ... The Turks know how to hurt, they leave us with a little heart tight ... And what an outcome, what an outcome !!!
Unexpectedly awesome movie on Netflix
cansizoc5 April 2021
This performance should get an Oscar for Cagatay. Story/music are also awesome. It gives nice view of street life from Istanbul. It keeps you in the story to the end. This is definitely be in your must watch list. I feel like this having similar effect like Gladiator movie. You can't just get out of story after movie ends. It is so powerful.
the script and the end is ridiculous
suleboluk17 March 2021
Our paper collector character gives a different perspective of character. Cinematography is very good, Istanbul looks very beautiful. Good acting. However, the screenplay is very bad. The constant drama, fighting and pain never ends. Realism is zero. It sucks at the end. Is there still a script that writes this kind of ending? The script is unbearably bad. If the script is bad, so is the movie.
PERFORMANCE OF A LIFETIME
kristina-katarina12 March 2021
Great movie! Strong storyline with amazing main characters. Cagatay Ulusoy once again proved wrong all those who consider him just a handsome face with no talent nor acting skills. Looking fat, dirty and bearded, he still NAILED IT! Out-of-the world performance, he can portray just about anything and everything. I highly recommend it. It's a MUST WATCH.
Amazing
burak-hammas25 April 2021
Ratings are unrealistically high
furdakmarina29 May 2021
After reading the reviews and calls for the Oscar nomination for the film, I expected to see a masterpiece. But it didn't work out. The film is ordinary, and more like a soap opera, where the calculation is made only to squeeze a tear out of the viewer. On the whole, it's boring. I do not advise anyone who wants to watch a movie to read reviews about it: they are largely biased.
Heartbraking
borisisic20 April 2021
A very sad history of Turkey
DogePelis201514 March 2021
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