In The Trader (Sovdagari), Gela sells secondhand clothes and household items from the back of his minibus while travelling the Eastern European country, Georgia in search of spuds. Money is meaningless in this market—potatoes are lucre. Young and old peer into his truck, their eyes lighting up at the sight of modern conveniences like sponges and lint brushes. It’s a riddle that pits rural value against urban valuation, dirt versus gold. Directed by Tamta Gabrichidze.
Sundance announced last week The Trader (Sovdagari) would be a part of its 2018 shorts program, winner of the Best Short Documentary Award at Hot Docs.
