Uman is a Ukrainian city with a population of less than 90,000. Once a year people from all over the country gather here, playing cards, smoking, and waiting … Is this a trading point for Hi-fi systems or tents? Perhaps both. In any case, for many Ukrainians the arrival of the first coach from Israel heralds the most profitable time of the year as the Jewish pilgrims travel to the tomb of Rabbi Nachman to celebrate the traditional new year’s day of Rosh Hashanah there. Luggage is taken away – for money, of course –, homes are sold, people trade and barter. Rarely has a film captured wheeling and dealing with so much loving attention to detail. We get to experience the lively goings-on between cultures and religions from a very special perspective which turns our attention to the margins of the actual spectacle. Absurdly enough, everything here – despite tough negotiations – seems to be working the way one would wish for or have wished for in other places and at other times. “Mister God knows what he’s doing …”

Claudia Lehmann