Monday, May 10, 2021

Man Push Cart

Man Push Cart is a 2005 American independent film by Ramin Bahrani that tells the story of a former Pakistani rock star who sells coffee and bagels from his pushcart on the streets of Manhattan.



14 comments:

  1. ...a tough way to earn a buck!

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  2. That sounds interesting. It is surprising how many immigrants to the US had more prestigious jobs before they came, but they came here in hope of doing better. We had a custodian at school for several years who got lucky and won the immigration lottery to the US from Morocco. He was college educated and a teacher there. He came here and could only be a custodian. Not that being a custodian is a bad thing, and in our district it was good career, but I think he had hoped he could continue to teach. Perhaps it had to do with the level of education or the transfer of education credits. Happy Monday.

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    1. Education systems and credentials are so different from one country to another, and licensing here can be time-consuming and expensive and even impossible if you got your education elsewhere.

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  3. In addition those prestigious jobs in other countries are not what they are here. Depending on what country there are government limitations.

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    1. This man was an English-speaking Pakistani rock star. I'm sure he thought that'd translate into American opportunities pretty well. And the poor man couldn't buy a break :(

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  4. It isn't just Pakistani rock stars. It's the entire industry set up to decide who will and who will not make it. Even with an agent, just because you can sing and play and do well somewhere else, doesn't mean you will get radio or other exposure. Trust me, he is not alone in his frustration.

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    1. It's different with the artistic professions, and I can understand how he just didn't realize how his homeland fame would be difficult to capitalize on here. With licensed professions I imagine it's nigh on impossible to get current licensure here if you got licensed in a foreign country. Gatekeepers serve a purpose, but you'd think there would be eople who could manage individual evaluations.

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  5. Rules and regulations differ from place to place. I did my studies in England and had to fight for several years to get them accepted in Germany! Have a great day, Valerie

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    1. Yes, the licensed professions are very tight little protective organizations.

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  6. This reminds me a little of a woman who worked with my mother. Ma was a stitcher and worked in a factory sewing linings in coats, jackets, and dresses. A young woman had emigrated from Greece and was also working at the factory. In Greece, she had been a surgical nurse. I don't know why she wasn't able to pursue her nursing career here. Licensing exams, language barrier?

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    1. Both, I'd think, depending on how fluent she was. Licensing requirements differ so much from country to country.

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  7. That was a depressing movie, to put it mildly. So sad.

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    1. "Can't win for losing" as the saying goes.

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