An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker

The compound "documentary-realism" is much overused in film criticism. But, if ever a film deserved to be so described, it is Danis Tanovic's rigorous study of life among Bosnia's Romany community. Indeed, for the first 20 minutes, the casual viewer could be forgiven for mistaking An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker for a genuine slice of verité.

Nasif, a hard-working scrap-metal collector, takes his pregnant wife Senada to the local clinic and is told that she has had a miscarriage. She needs surgery, but the hospital officials demand an unobtainable sum before performing the procedure.

A horrible, gruelling trial begins as Nasif battles his way through red tape while continuing to scavenge for stray hunks of metal. Their electricity is cut off. Eventually they find a helpful pair of ears.

It transpires that, not only is Tanovic telling a true story, he is shooting the very people who lived through it. Relatives and friends also contribute performances. Nazif Mujic fought in the Bosnian war, but emerged with neither benefits nor pension and found himself cruelly cast adrift when his wife fell ill. The film is, thus, as much a reconstruction as a true-life drama.

Made on a tiny budget with a mobile camera, Iron Picker cannot be faulted for its authenticity. (We learn, along the way, that Bosnian Romany women greet each other with three noisy kisses on the lips.) Nazif and Senada may occasionally seem a little ill at ease, but they convey warmth and decency throughout.

Comparisons could be made with Cristian Mungiu's 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days . However, in its focus on bureaucracy, Iron Picker is, perhaps, closer to Ken Loach's venerable, outraged Cathy Come Home. Unfortunately, the form of the piece does rather limit the possibilities for dramatic progression.

Tanovic, director of the Oscar-winning No Man's Land, has certainly constructed a work of great integrity. Even at a brief 75 minutes, it is, however, something of a grim slog.