The Trader (2018) User Reviews

Bleak but brilliant

[cllmhpkns · 8/10 · 16 February 2018]

This documentary offers a bleak look at poverty by following a trader and his work in the small villages of the Republic of Georgia. Although one could argue the style is slow and boring, it is employed to reflects the mundane, hard and dream-crushing nature of poverty and the villagers simple existence. The directors juxtaposition of the joy and childhood and the harsh reality of adulthood in these community creates a surprising emotional depth to the short documentary format.

Naturally it will not resonate with everyone with such a simple style and subject matter, but give it 23 minutes of your time and be pleasantly surprised.

Puts your life in perspective

[maccas-56367 · 7/10 · 20 January 2019]

22 minutes of putting your life in perspective.

Take your pick:

• The old lonely lady that just wanted a grater
• The eyes of amazement of 2 kids rifling through random objects
• The old man who just wanted to escape the village

These people will pull at your heart strings. Potatoes as a currency is something I had only ever heard of from Stalin-era Russia. I didn't realise this was still very much a way of life in rural areas of Georgia.

Great little documentary that could've easily been longer, albeit super depressing as it is.

Unpretentious and brilliant

[WildBullWriter · 8/10 · 8 March 2018]

This short film, in an unpretentious way, reveals so very much about the lives of the people it portrays... both the life of the trader and the lives of the impoverished farmers/peasants who trade potatoes for the things they need and want. Lovely cinematography. Some of the lingering shots are just brilliant for the raw truth they reveal about the lifestyles and daily routines of the people. This is a flim one will watch more than once.

A successful trade for your time

[Horst_In_Translation · 6/10 · 15 February 2018]

"The Trader" is a 23-minute documentary short film from 2018, so a really new movie and as the title already gives away the focus here is on trading in Eastern Europe, a civilization and society that could hardly be any more different from ours. Director Tamta Gabrichidze captured the spirit of these men and the result is a solid insight into another kind of business world that we really aren't very familiar with. The people feel authentic and realistic (urig would be the German word), so I hope I am right in my perception that not too much was scripted or staged here. And I want to add that it is a rough, yet heartfelt life out there and the documentary got this across nicely. Maybe really touching or convincing moments are not included here, but for the running time of under half an hour, it really is enough quality-wise and according to imdb, this was the first directorial effort by Gabrichidze and I think it was a convincing rookie effort that may help him with his career hopefully. In the light of the quality, I am not surprised that this documentary is also seen by many in the western world. You certainly should join them and don't forget about subtitles of course.

Grim

[rachelnstephens · 6/10 · 30 September 2021]

The English subtitles are awful. Often the subtitles are "speaking in Georgian" or "speaking in Armenian." Uh, yeah, we know - but what are they saying?

Very grim look at how the rest of the world in western Asia lives. It feels a bit like poverty p*rn without a clear story.

A one sided view from an observer

[Gordon-11 · 30 December 2018]

This film follows a trader who goes to rural villages in Georgia to trade goods for potatoes.

I'm not sure what the point of the documentary is. It shows people asking prices of various goods, and at times bargaining with the trader. The only shot worth watching is the one with the old woman who wants to buy a grater. She evokes sympathy. The rest of the shots don't evoke anything. If they interviewed the villagers, and ask them their point of view regarding the trades, and also talk about their lives, the documentary would have been more interesting. Currently it is only a one sided view from an observer.

Overrated but not too bad.

[lhmcm · 6/10 · 10 August 2023]

I'm surprised about how great the reviews seem to be. The Trader is a 20-minute document of the day-to-day life of a potato salesman in Georgia. It's got some fascinating moments, but it tells no story.

In the end, we are left to ask: what was that? What was the purpose? It certainly paints a gritty and bleakly honest picture of Georgia and the different lives there, but it offers no narrative or reason for its existence. It's like an unedited video tape. It's a mere document, not a documentary. And for a Sundance film festival short, that is very disappointing.

In summary, it is mildly interesting throughout, but there is really no point to it all.

I loved it

[thomasdabish · 10/10 · 13 February 2018]

Film was an incredible glimpse of daily life in another region in the world. Very short, very ambiguous with almost no plot what so ever - yet it captivated me. I do wish it was longer.

Well worth 23 mins of your time.

[niamhparker-36283 · 9/10 · 10 April 2018]

This short doc is incredibly sad/bleak at times but also fascinating and, I think, well shot. Some lovely scenes. And some harrowing one. A trader makes his leaving trading gems for potatoes and then selling the potatoes on later on (elsewhere). Everyone just trying to get by (but in abject poverty). I thought it was great. More than worthy of less than half an hour of my time.

....not complete.

[riddhimaakaritu · 4/10 · 25 September 2019]

Honestly I don't get what they were trying to convey by this film? It feels incomplete.

Beautiful and grim

[juliegetsnews-33462 · 8/10 · 25 August 2019]

The images are as starkly beautiful as they are grim. The caucuses are one of the worlds most beautiful regions and have been economically devastated since the fall of the Soviet Union and political turmoil with its Russian neighbor. It isn't just poverty but the poverty and grim hopelessness following an economic collapse. This film evokes some of the same emotions for me as seeing a midwestern town following the closing of it's only big auto-manufacturing plant.

Short yet still leaves an impact

[mitsubishizero · 9/10 · 10 February 2022]

It's almost 30 minutes long, yet it doesn't feel rushed in what it's trying to say. There's no voice-over narration, just an occasional piano piece and dialogue between the vender and the villagers and a few interviews from both sides. It's sad to see them living in utter poverty, where potatoes are not just currency, but everything. Many have few prospects.

One man, when interviewed, claimed he wanted an education. Sadly, that was unattainable. Later, he can be heard saying if he could he'd drive away from this village.

The kids that run around the village are adorable. It's nice to see them have fun. You can't help but smile at their innocence. As for the man, he still manages to smile-despite his rough life.

Given Georgia's history, it has come a long way and it still has ways to go. As many other countries do.

Just watching this really puts into perspective how much worse things are for some people and how they could be for you. It really makes you appreciate the things you have more, both little and big.

I'd definitely check this out. It's short, yet poignant and direct.

The Skipper

[Villings · 4/10 · 11 February 2018]

Sometimes less is more but in this case, nothing is nothing. I'm sure the filmmaker will find her style eventually, but this is a numb start.

Expand your horizons

[adventurer_ci · 10/10 · 14 April 2018]

This is not a documentary made for a mass market. Pearl Jams songs says " I don't question our existence, I just question our modern needs." By Western standards of living, these people live in poverty and manual labor must be exhausting. While they don't have many choices, they seem to have everything they need. Are they happy? That is the main question, but the documentary is too short to answer it.

TRULY BREATHTAKING

[markj-02556 · 9/10 · 10 February 2018]

The trader follows a trader in a small town in the Republic of Georgia, Selling objects for potatoes. This documentary was directed by Tamta Gabrichidze, this is his first film.

I didn't know what to expect when I turned this on. What i got was a small glimpse at poverty and the dreams that were crushed by the situation that these people are in. This documentary is only 23 minutes, so it doesn't exactly take time out someone's day, but it made me feel so lucky for what i have. the direction sutile but also beautiful. There are now overhead shot or narration. But there are beautiful stills and long takes, especially near the end.

If I was to nitpick though I found that somethings are lingered on a bit to much.

Otherwise watch this, It is defiantly worth 23 minutes of your life.

9/10

Incredible

[stairways · 10/10 · 19 June 2021]

Without any need for a voice-over narration, this short (23 min) film follows a Georgian trader into rural Georgia where he trades tat and throwaway trash with the locals for what is effectively the currency of potatoes. That's it.

But that description tells you nothing about the stunning 'old world' poverty of the rural people he visits, or indeed if their incredible wide-eyed wonder when they see his tatty almost worthless wares, as if he had shown them true wonders and rare jewels.

Others have said it here; this is an eye-opener, in so many ways. Watch it (on Netflix). It will show you a part of Europe you probably had no idea still existed in the 20th, let alone in the 21st century. Brilliant, simple, filmmaking. Bravo!

Understand Rural Georgia

[thundernoise · 8/10 · 22 February 2018]

This humble gem gets 5/10 for its provocative scenes and honest interactions in an otherwise plotless film. I've granted two more stars because, without question, it has some of the best cinematography of genuine facial expressions showing the wonder and excitement of children and the callous apathy of elderly peasants that I will likely ever see. In agreement with other reviewers I found this documentary to be very ambiguous with no clear reason or message. The film plays upon two main stories: first, a few days in the life of a merchant trader from the capital city of Tbilisi, and second the daily hardships of poor rural farmers who's wealth and currency consists solely of potatoes. For a nation that most of the world pays sparse attention to, this brief look into the activities of Georgian citizenry inspired me personally to consider people in a part of the world I know embarrassingly little about. Would highly recommend if you have a contemplative half-hour to burn.

Raw country side , uncut

[recepvesek · 10/10 · 28 November 2019]

Great documentary, %100 real life itself. Raw and uncut.

Too realistic!

[ilkinteymur · 9/10 · 20 April 2020]

I really liked it! The film shows heartbroken poverty in Georgia

Those sweet impressions

[trulex · 10/10 · 10 July 2019]

A Story is simple but delivered wisely and very beautiful, also landscapes and the atmosphere are great. most of all I loved that Bebo (granny) and her line- "i'm lonely and I got no one" and her tricky impression scene... well done and thank you Tamta. Gaumarjos (cheers in Georgian)

Count your blessings

[darcywingo · 10/10 · 27 April 2018]

Amazing! All subtitles as the language is not English, but it is so interesting to see the happiness in the children. The adults are hard workers and it definitely shows the value that is put on even the most humble objects. Great documentary to watch and appreciate what others have and their efforts to survive...just like all of us

Marvellous

[haggerwood · 10/10 · 10 January 2019]

A few people try to rip the trader off (one lady with a bag of potatoes that is light, an old woman wanting free handouts.) He is resolute in the face of such troublesome individuals. He drives his van very sensibly without going over the speed limit or allowing the film crew to distract him. The old man who says he wants to move away but is "too old" is kind of a malcontent who I imagine would be miserable wherever he went. The kid who wants to be a journalist is much more interesting although he is too shy to actually speak on camera. I would have liked to get more insight into the card game at the end as we are left somewhat in suspense. Who won? Were they gambling for cash or potatoes?

Resetting Your Head

[cormierkd-06460 · 9/10 · 10 December 2023]

This is a documentary that's not as much about the subject(s) as it is about perspective. Regardless of the nationality or individual, we all live in bubbles of cultural acceptability. Someone from an affluent society would view the environment and circumstances of this film as being - as it would apply to them - a situation that is unbearably sad, which would be too difficult to endure. But it's just another day in the life of people. Life goes on, away from all of the distractions and entertainment, away from the gross imbalance of wealth, away from that 10% of the people at the top, away from petty foreign affairs, away from technology and "progress" which leaves most people in its wake. This film is simply a snippet of life that takes place for most on this planet, doing what people need to do to get by. And perhaps it's a bit of a calling-out for those that are complacent, entitled, and obsessed with what they don't have versus what they do have.

Watch and share with your grandchildren.

[magdalene65 · 10/10 · 19 May 2022]

I stumbled upon The Trader on Netflix. The trader's highway drive seemed long, so I was ready to click off until The Trader got to his first stop, where he bought goods to take and trade for potatoes. From then on, I was mesmerized. This short film not only is worth watching because it shows you another way of life, it shows you that, despite the completely different lifestyle from that in the U. S., one of hard, endless work and poverty, there is also the whole gamut of emotion from vanity to hope with laughter and love. The children are joyous over the smallest things - like a man blowing bubbles.

This film will make you dance to the warmth of your home, bubble up in happiness while drawing a bath, snuggle into your freshly washed sheets. As for the food in your refrigerator and the leisure time you have, you will almost keel over in appreciation.