MAN PUSH CART
US, 2005, 87 minutes, Colour.
Ahmad Razvi, Leticia Dolera, Charles Daniel Sandoval.
Directed by Ramin Bahrani.
This is a small, quietly moving film that has received some acclaim, including an award from Interfilm, the Protestant association for film and festival juries.
Filmed on the streets of New York, it is a brief glimpse into the sad and wearying life of a Pakistani immigrant, Ahmad (Ahmad Razvi), who makes his living with a push cart (starting at 3.00am), selling tea, coffee and bagels to the passing custom. We learn that he had been a successful singer at home but had come to the US for love of his wife. She has died and the in-laws have taken custody of the young son. They refuse to give him up.
Some brighter moments occur in Ahmad’s life. He is befriended by a wealthy migrant from Lahore who recognises him as the singer, gets him to help renovate his apartment and would like to promote his musical career. A Spanish girl works in a nearby pushcart and they become friends. But, it seems, for these migrants, life was not meant to be easy and vexations and tragedies dog Ahmad.
The director immerses us in the narrow world of the streets and pushcarts. It quietly reveals the hardships that migrants experience in the land of the American dream. He also creates a small group of characters who reveal to us human grief and despair.
1. A modest film? Small budget? New York locations and world?
2. The focus on Pakistan, its background, the migrants to the United States? The contrast between life in Pakistan and life in New York City? Hopes and the American dream?
3. The location photography, the night sequences, the streets of New York, the cart and the customers? The various carts? The contrast with poor apartments and affluent apartments? The clubs? The realistic atmosphere? The musical score, the Pakistani music, the tradition, the songs?
4. The title of the film, the focus on Ahmad, our seeing him push the cart so often? Life with the cart, the early morning rise, pushing it to its destination from the warehouse, the range of customers, his courtesy towards the customers, their manner of buying the food, tea, coffee, bagels? The effect of this on Ahmad and his hopes?
5. Ahmad's life story, in Pakistan, his success as a rock star, people knowing his CDs? His marriage, love for his wife, moving to New York? His son? His wife's death, the anniversary, the
family praying and keeping the anniversary? His visit to his in-laws, their keeping his son, refusing to let the son go? His quiet desperation? His raising the money, paying for the lease of the cart? The disappearance of the cart and its effect on him? Helping out his friend with the other cart? The conversations with the customers?
6. Noami, from Barcelona, her being in the other cart, his buying the cigarettes, the friendship, their talk, sharing life stories? His advising Mohammed to invite her out? The relationship,
falling in love? Her own boyfriend in Barcelona, her disappointment in Ahmad's behaviour, giving up the job as selling the tickets at the club? The intimate talks, her return home?
7. Mohammed, his asking Ahmad about his background, his inviting him out, giving him the job of renovating his home, friendly with him, the beers, the talk, playing the music, staying over? Lending him the five hundred dollars for cart? Talking to the music people, the parties, Noami's presence? His getting Ahmad the job, selling the tickets - and Ahmad walking out? Its being too late - his having to pick up his cart at 3.00am? Mohammed's negative reaction, the music people and their
reaction? Ahmad and his desperation after the disappearance of his cart, asking Mohammed for money, Mohammed angry with him, anger about his not finishing the work, urging him out? Ahmad's reaction?
8. Ahmad and his friends, the old man with the cart, helping him out? The man from whom he bought the lease - and his refusal to help?
9. A portrait of loneliness in New York City? The migrant and the different culture? Adapting to the new culture, manner, ways of speaking? Hoping for a future in America? The loneliness of the widower, away from his son? The possibility of meeting other people, other women? Friendships - and their being precarious? Moodiness and the breaking of friendships?
10. Critical acclaim for this film, a film of values and insight into human nature?
