A Run for Money
A Run for Money
| 17 December 1999 (USA)
A Run for Money Trailers

The film is set in present-day Istanbul. Selim is a shop owner in his early forties. He sells clothing for men in his shop situated in one of the back streets of Istanbul. Selim is a family man who has devoted his life to his home and his work. He lives with his wife Ayla, his six-year-old daughter Esma and his old father in a simple flat in and old, modest neighbourhood. He has warm relations with his family. He is an affectionate father. One of his neighbours, a young widow named Nihal tries to seduce Selim, but her flirtation leaves him cold. Selim is known for his honesty and integrity among his family and friends. He is a careful spender. As a little child, he has learned that money is not easily earned. He has no tolerance for petty "trickery" met in daily life. One day, Selim finds a bag full of dollar bills (approximately 500,000$) in a cab. From that day on, Selim finds himself in a bewildered state with a bag full of money on his hands.

Reviews
Rio Hayward All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
Calum Hutton It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...
Ezmae Chang This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.
Payno I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.
FilmCriticLalitRao Most studies carried out in the field of sociology suggest that money is not an evil force. It becomes evil when it is obtained through shady means as it is difficult to control ill gotten wealth. This is precisely the theme of "A Run for Money" directed by Turkish director Reha Erdem whose films deserve a wider audience base outside the borders of his native Turkey. The character development especially how it changes the focus of the film is one major reason to watch this film. For this purpose, Reha Erdem chose to base his film on what happens before, during and after the acquisition of a big sum of money by an ordinary character who did not bother to attach much importance to money. Although it is not a thriller, "A run for money" has plenty of minor characters whose timely appearances keep audiences entertained. It has been said time and again that one needs only a wrong move to initiate downfall. This is what happens to our film's protagonist but what is important for viewers is the manner in which the 'financial as well as spiritual ruin' of the protagonist is filmed. If Nuri Bilge Ceylan's phony films get on your nerves then "A run for money" would turn out to be a welcome surprise for you as through this film Reha Erdem emerges as the true author of Turkish cinema who eschews all kinds of pretentiousness which has hitherto helped to promote Turkish cinema on the international scene.
EchoMaRinE A very nice movie about how money corrupts people, even the most honest and conservative ones. Beside being a bit slow, the movie is really very good. The character and story development is very satisfactory. The acting performance of actors was quite good. The plot was clear, consistent, interesting, well thought and novel. The psychology of the main character was given pretty good. The only point I found a bit weird was the end. It could be a bit slower, like some slow motion or some conversation. It reminded the old movies where the story was ending suddenly. Nevertheless, it is a decent movie with a very nice story and pretty good acting.
cgyford Up and coming Turkish director and writer Reha Erdem took to the international festival circuit to win wide critical acclaim and a sadly missed opportunity to represent his country at the 73rd Academy Awards with this compelling sophomore feature that deserves a much wider audience than it has thus far manage to find.Unknown actor Taner Birsel gives a wonderfully nuanced and carefully judged central performance as an inconceivably honest man torn apart by his own misguided actions in the corrupt and corrupting city on the Bosporus that itself becomes the menacing villain of a movie with no other apparent external protagonist to drive the story along.The fledgling filmmaker manages to maintain an almost unbearable level of tension that he continues to ratchet up right to the bitter and twisted end of this epic battle of wills between a humble man and the painfully rendered city that represents everything he despises and yet is doomed to become despite his valiant efforts of defiance.I fell down on my own.
groan-1 i really don't have so much words about that movie. great acting, great directing, great etc. actually this is the 2nd movie of the filmmaker reha erdem but you can clearly see how talented he is. kac para kac is about the passion for money and how it could make people to forget their honesty. one of the best movies from turkey. rating: 8/10