It's Hard to Be Nice (Bosnia)

A fun surprise towards the end of the festival. The film provides a view of the tough and often cynical existence in Sarajevo while still making a positive film about life in such a world. The main character is a taxi driver who like everyone else (it seems) supplements his income by variety of less than legal endeavors. Everyone is doing it and he feels it's the only way to survive. When one of his "tips" goes less than perfectly some gangsters beat him up and destroy his taxi. Confronted by his wife he makes a decision to turn his life around and only do good. He borrows money from another taxi driver (who's diversified to supplement his income) and buys a brand new car and suit. As part of this business makeover he resolves to take only legal jobs. This plan is then tested over and over again in a sort of local re-telling of Job (just much lighter). With likeable characters it's easy to root for him even as your expectations for his success are as low as that of his coworkers. A very nice, small film that's worth a look.