Import/Export
Austria, Germany, France
2007
141 Min
Color
1.66:1
English, German, Russian, Slovak
Synopsis
Two individual fates move in opposite directions. Olga, a nurse from the Ukraine, abandons her family to look for a better life in the West and ends up working as a cleaning woman in a geriatric ward in Austria. Paul, an unemployed security guard from Vienna, is looking a reason to get up in the mornings and heads East with his stepfather, ending up in the Ukraine. Two young people on the move, eager to start a new life, confronted with a rough reality. Two stories about the pursuit of happiness and material advantages, about the darker sides of sexuality and death, and about the difficulties of cleaning the teeth of a stuffed fox. –Cannes Film Festival
Director
Ulrich Seidl
Ulrich Seidl was born in Vienna in 1952 and grew up in the town of Horn in Lower Austria. He studied journalism, art history and drama in Vienna, supporting himself with odd jobs, before entering the prestigious Vienna Film Academy at the age of 26. In 1980 he made his first documentary, Einsvierzig. Following the controversy surrounding his second film, Der Ball (1982) – a wickedly satirical portrait of the graduation ball in his home town – Seidl was asked to leave the Film Academy. In 1990 he returned to the scene with the feature-length documentary Good News. Within the decade Seidl was to make seven more documentaries for cinema and television, winning much acclaim and many prizes for his work.
Hundstage – Dog Days, his first fiction film, was released in 2001 and won several important awards, beginning with the grand jury prize at the Venice Film Festival in 2001. The same year also saw the release of Zur Lage / State of… read more
Wall
Displaying 4 of 22 wall posts.
Scott Barley
29Jan13
A film with several moments of brilliance but also clearly exposed flaws. The film tries to convey a pessimistic truth to the socio-cultural circumstances, and in some ways succeeds, but it cannot be denied that the two main characters are the most contrived of the whole film. The films strengths could have been taken further - the garbage-saturated landscapes and factories, and the honest depiction of dying people.
Troy Savory
27Jan13
A masterpiece. Nothing more, nothing less. The emotional rawness and direction of the film give it a documentary feel as the narrative threads through the two leads lives. The entire film is a pleasurable experience with incredible cinematography and well acted performances. A diamond in the rough.
Scott Barley likes this
Neo-Gloom likes this
Related Films
Fans
Displaying 5 of 314 fans.
Articles
Our roundup of essays and articles on this film.
Neither Point A nor Point B: Allan Sekula & Noël Burch's "The Forgotten Space"
By Ignatiy Vishnevetsky on April 30, 2011
This “secretly hopeful film on an obviously dispiriting subject” is now getting a theatrical run in New York.
The Auteurs Daily: Summer Looks to Fall
By David Hudson on July 30, 2009
Though they surely didn't intend it, when Warner Bros moved the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to the dead center of the
Lists
Displaying 5 of 97 lists.
Reviews
Displaying 2 of 2
A solid study of everyday struggles
By Heywood Seth on October 23, 2012
This film delivers and pulls no punches at all. Ulrich Seidl stamps in his authority as a serious director right off the bat. He fly’s you straight into the heart of Austria from your couch and remains… read review
WORLD’S A TRADE MARKET AND YOU ARE MERCHANDISE
By Товарищ Петя. on August 12, 2010
Distinct Austrian hardcore documentary-maker Ulrich Seidl post yet another contribution in the public debate with new Import/Export_. Consequent in his documentarish narrative, Seidl continues… read review
Forum
Displaying
0 discussion topics.