And it's New York's loss, not his.

Saw this film this afternoon at Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival. The lead actor, Ahmad Razvi, is not a professional actor, but he holds his own very well. He told the audience after the screening that he had pushed a cart, briefly, but was self-employed when he was discovered by the director behind the counter of his own restaurant. However, in my opinion this is the director's, Ramin Bahrani, and cinematographer's, a guy named Simmons, film.

There is very little plot. It is about shining a light onto the life of one of the street vendors you can buy from in many of our larger cities, and never really think about. He has a story. Some people will be bored with it, but most of the more insightful audience members will never forget what they're so convincingly exposed to here.

This is Bahrani's first film, I believe, and it's certainly an indication of great things to come. He's taken the legend of Sisyphus in this his first outing and transformed it into something we can all relate to. And it's something we need to relate to given our current distrust of Muslims, ex-rock star or not. Somehow, though, I doubt that many working at Homeland Security are likely to see it.

Moving with a slow even rhythm, this film portrays a man's struggle to get by as an immigrant to the U.S. from Pakistan. His life centers on his work as a street vendor who must pull his cart to a New York city street corner every morning and sell coffee and such to the busy urban customers. The cart, like his troubles in life are quite allot for him to keep under control as he makes his way through the crowded NYC landscape. What makes the film work so well is the overall atmosphere and style in which it was shot. Ahmad is a reticent soul and much is expressed in his eyes and demeanor, his world is urban and dark, the vast majority of this film is at night and Ahmad seems to be living in a nighttime existence. There's a feeling of confinement and being trapped as well. Even when Ahmed loses his cart it seems there is no place to go to look for it. The relationship that develops with a woman that he meets who also works as a street vendor is tentative and cautionary in its process but also intriguing and sensual. The film is non manipulative and non judgmental, it's an outsider's gaze into one man's lonely isolated existence far from his past and former self.

This is not a first film for Iranian writer/director Ramin Bahrani. It is actually his third, but it is obviously a labor of love, not something made to generate profit.

Like Julia Stiles film, Raving, this is a slice of life in New York. A Pakistani Rock Star moves to the city for his wife and child, but tragedy strikes and the mother-in-law-from-hell keeps him apart from his son.

He spends his time - from 3 am until after dark, loading, pushing and selling. The trip through the cavern in The Descent was not nearly as terrifying as seeing Ahmad (Ahmad Razvi) pull his coffee and bagel cart through New York traffic. He certainly has more nerve that I have! One only hopes for good things to happen for Ahmad, but, alas, that is not to be. Loss and drudgery is the story of his life, and this film allows you to tag along and share that burden.

With the enchanting Leticia Dolera, Bahrani's labor of love is truly worthy.