Movie

Paper Lives

2021 · 96 min

A quiet, heavy-hearted watch that lingers on hardship and small kindnesses, drawing you into its sadness without melodrama.

Overview: In the streets of Istanbul, ailing waste warehouse worker Mehmet takes a small boy under his wing and must soon confront his own traumatic childhood.
How it feels: Melancholic, bleak, warm and earnest. Slow-burning and needs your attention.
About: Politics, trauma
Content: Mild violence, gore and language. No sexual content.
Note: Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

Your rating is saved. See your suggestions, or find titles like this one below.

Rate it, and Mesmero finds titles that feel like it. You do not need an account.

Add to a list: Paper Lives

Stream in the US

More options Data from JustWatch

In your watch list

More like this

Like Paper Lives, but

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Full breakdown

Tone: melancholicstrength 3 of 3
bleakstrength 2 of 3
warmstrength 2 of 3
earneststrength 1 of 3
Pacing: slow-burn, 1 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention: engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes: politics
trauma
Places: big city
Era: contemporary
Audience: adult
Form: None
Content intensity: Gore mild
Language mild
Violence mild
Sex none