Paper Lives

In one of Istanbul’s old neighborhoods, countless stories unfold every day, often unnoticed amid the rush of everyday life. Mehmet is one of the young paper collectors who makes a living gathering recyclable materials from the streets. Tahsin Baba, who runs the neighborhood’s collection depot and has supported Mehmet since childhood, is more than just a mentor to him—he is like family. One day, Mehmet’s life takes an unexpected turn when he and his closest friend Gonzales discover eight-year-old Ali inside Gonzales’s handcart. As Mehmet tries to reunite the boy with his family, an unexpected friendship begins to grow between them. Their journey will bring the two closer together and leave a lasting mark on both of their lives.