Man Push Cart

Released Sep 8, 2006

1h 26m

Drama

List

89%

Tomatometer

55 Reviews

66%

Audience Score

2,500+ Ratings

Ahmad (Ahmad Razvi) is a Pakistani-born cart vendor who sells bagels and coffee in Manhattan, a humble and bleak means of a living that affords him little comfort. In his former life in Pakistan, he was a rock star. He was also married and had a child. Now his wife is dead, his in-laws refuse him visits with his son, and his job is all he seems to have, but he seems content with his fate. However, a chance encounter with a businessman may change Ahmad's fortune -- for better, or worse.

Read More

Read Less

Critics Consensus

This compassionate portrait of a New York City street vendor is as beautiful as it is melancholy.

Read Critics Reviews

Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

A slow-burn stunner, where nothing much of consequence happens, except life itself.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jan 4, 2007

Full Review

Peter Hartlaub

San Francisco Chronicle

The makers of Man Push Cart seem so dedicated to making a film that defies Hollywood conventions that the finished product lacks enough entertainment value to justify price of admission.

Rated: 2/4

Dec 8, 2006

Full Review

Lisa Kennedy

Denver Post

Michael Simmond's cinematography, especially in scenes of Ahmad muscling his way amid evening traffic and early-morning delivery trucks, is wonderfully true to the moods of a city that never sleeps and seldom nods at the hard work going on before it.

Rated: 2.5/4

Dec 1, 2006

Full Review

Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

Bahrani uses the theme of survival to push the narrative on everyday people who go through similar struggles in the major cities and that it is not just limited to adults.

Mar 6, 2023

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The Italian neorealism of the 1940s is reconfigured by Iranian-American writer-director Ramin Bahrani.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 12, 2021

Full Review

James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

a film in the neorealist vein, one of close observation and conviction that brings us into a world that many of those who live in larger cities see every day-right under their eyes-but probably rarely if ever stop to consider.

Rated: 3.5/4

Mar 8, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Shioka O

It was miserable than I thought. /given that low budget and limited production period, this film has a true indie vibe. Slow-burn and realistic. Nothing fun at all.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

nilufer e

Even though it made me be thankful for whatever I have in this world, didn't give me much emotion as I anticipated. Acting was okay and the story was so so.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Man Push Cart -- Viewer Not Care.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Touched by the sight of a Pakistani street vendor towing the titular livelihood on the busy streets of New York City and reminded of Albert Camus's The Myth of Sisyphus, Ramin Bahran's critics' darling at numerous film festivals is a grievous depiction of a man's worthless search for contentment in an absurdly unintelligible world devoid of God and eternal truths.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Nice story for something that can seem so mundane to the rest of us. I wanted a little more though!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This film illustrates a grave portrait of the life of an immigrant, coupled with excellent performances and a genuinely dreadful atmosphere. However, the plot is lackluster, the scene transitions are repetitive, and the film ends up leading you nowhere. A metaphor in many people's eyes, but not in mine.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Ramin Bahrani

Director

Ahmad Razvi

Ahmad

Leticia Dolera

Noemi

Charles Daniel Sandoval

Mohammad

Ali Reza

Manish

Farooq "Duke" Muhammad

Duke

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

97%

85%

Iron Island

63%

57%

A Simple Curve

82%

70%

Keane

87%

87%

After the Wedding

76%

81%

Assisted Living

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

RTIndie: "Little Miss Sunshine," "Half Nelson" Lead Indie Spirit Award Noms

Box Office Guru Preview: Covenant Brings Evil to Theaters

Ebert’s Overlooked Film Festival Back In Full Swing This Weekend

View more photos

Synopsis

Ahmad (Ahmad Razvi) is a Pakistani-born cart vendor who sells bagels and coffee in Manhattan, a humble and bleak means of a living that affords him little comfort. In his former life in Pakistan, he was a rock star. He was also married and had a child. Now his wife is dead, his in-laws refuse him visits with his son, and his job is all he seems to have, but he seems content with his fate. However, a chance encounter with a businessman may change Ahmad's fortune -- for better, or worse.

Director: Ramin Bahrani
Screenwriter: Ramin Bahrani
Distributor: Films Philos
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 8, 2006, Limited
Release Date (DVD): Oct 16, 2007
Runtime: 1h 26m