Import/Export

The film follows two seemingly disparate characters whose lives converge in unexpected ways. In Ukraine, Olga is a nurse working in a retirement home, seeking a better life abroad. Meanwhile, in Austria, Paul, a resentful man struggling with debt and family issues, takes a job as a security guard in a dilapidated building. Their paths cross as they both grapple with their circumstances and search for meaning and escape.

Import/Export received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its unflinching realism, stark portrayal of social issues, and Seidl's distinctive directorial style. While some found its bleakness challenging, many acknowledged its powerful and thought-provoking nature. Audiences were often divided due to its explicit content and somber tone.

• Praised for its raw, unsentimental depiction of East-West European realities.
• Seidl's signature style offers a challenging but profound exploration of human desperation and connection.
• Visually striking and emotionally resonant, though undeniably bleak.

Google audience: Audiences appreciated the film's realistic portrayal of difficult lives and its unflinching look at social disparities between Eastern and Western Europe. Some found it too explicit and depressing, while others admired its artistic integrity and thought-provoking narrative.

Nominated for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.

The film was shot on location in both Ukraine and Austria, with director Ulrich Seidl aiming for an authentic and gritty visual style that reflects the contrasting environments of the characters.