Iranian Kidney Bargain Sale

Young Iranians experience the organ trade process, in the only country in the world where kidney trading is legal.

Film Signature Image
Series
Global Voices
Premiere Date
October 20, 2007
Length
60 minutes
Funding Initiative
International
Producer

Malla Grapengiesser

Malla Grapengiesser was born in Sweden and studied literature, art and film at the University of Stockholm. She has worked as a curator, run an art gallery, and from 1989 to 1991 was a member of the international performance group Remote Control. She founded Hysteria Film AB, an independent film and video production company, with Antonio Russo Merenda in Show more 1994 and Asterisk Film (Denmark) in 2001. She produced and directed Vistet: The Log House of the Future and has produced numerous award-winning documentaries including Littoria-Latina, A City, by Gianfranco Pannone; War, by Jens Loftager; and My American Family, by Jerzy Sladkowski. Show less

Director

Nima Sarvestani

Nima Sarvestani started his career as a journalist in Iran and has been concentrating on documentary filmmaking since moving to Sweden in 1984. Focusing on social and political issues, he is inspired by those who fight passionately for their cause. He directed Dead Man’s Guest (2003), Naked and Wind (2002), Many Years Later (1999), and The Evil Cycle Show more (1998), Iranian Kidney Bargain Sale (2006), and On the Border of Desperation (2008). I Was Worth 50 Sheep is his latest production. Show less

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The Film

With an official kidney referral agency as the backdrop, Iranian Kidney Bargain Sale follows young Iranians through the organ trade process: from their first encounter to surgery and kidney removal. Iran is the only country in the world where kidney trading is legal. Every 10 minutes, a young person wishing to sell their kidney reports to the reception of one of the official kidney referral agencies.

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