Lives Made of Paper (Film)

Kağıttan Hayatlar is a 2021 Turkish drama film directed by Can Ulkay and written by Ercan Mehmet Erdem. Starring Çağatay Ulusoy in the lead role, the film focuses on the life of Mehmet, who survives by collecting paper in the backstreets of Istanbul, and his father Tahsin, with whom he shares a deep bond. Mehmet is a beloved figure in his neighborhood, known for offering support to homeless children and youths at his waste collection depot. The story unfolds when Mehmet encounters Ali, an eight-year-old boy, and begins to identify him with the family he lost in his own past, leading him to strive to reunite the child with his missing family.

Theme

The film Kağıttan Hayatlar centers on the relationship formed between Mehmet, a man who earns his living by collecting paper in Istanbul, and Ali, an eight-year-old boy he meets on the streets. It explores themes such as urban poverty, social exclusion, the search for family, and personal trauma. Through Mehmet’s confrontation with his past and his efforts to reunite Ali with his family, the film sheds light on the living conditions of individuals rendered invisible by societal structures. The plight of street children and the culture of mutual aid are also brought to the forefront.

Cast

• Çağatay Ulusoy – Mehmet
• Emir Ali Doğrul – Ali
• Turgay Tanülkü – Tahsin
• Okşan Büyük – Çağla
• Ersin Arıcı – Gonzales
• Selen Öztürk – Mother
• Tomris Çetinel – Old Woman
• Yalçın Yeter, Umut Can Dileyen, Özay Oğuzhan Dilekoğlu – Carriers
• Osman İskender, Muazzez Kırıkçı – Old Man and Aunt

Characters Mehmet and Ali from the Film (IMDb)

Awards and Nominations

2022 Altın Artemis Awards

• Best Film – Kağıttan Hayatlar
• Best Actor (Film) – Çağatay Ulusoy
• Best Supporting Actor (Film) – Ersin Arıcı
• Best Director – Can Ulkay
• Best Screenplay (Film) – Ercan Mehmet Erdem

2021 Ayaklı Gazete TV Yıldızları Awards

• Nomination: Best Film
• Nomination: Best Actor (Film) – Çağatay Ulusoy