MovieChat Forums > A Most Violent Year (2015) Discussion > So Little Paperwork for Such a Big Busin...

So Little Paperwork for Such a Big Business Transaction

posted 10 years ago by agracier-574-436194
4 replies | jump to latest

I know signing papers and lawyers/notary stuff is boring and not interesting for a movie. But even so, I found the paperwork and signing of the business deal to purchase the terminal to be amazingly frugal and minimalist.

I have no experience in buying property in the US, but where I live, property sales are by law handled by notaries and is accompanied with signing and paragraphing multiples pages of a sales contract along with witnessing and affixing of proper stamps and documentation of being recorded in national property roles.

In the movie, some of the signing, by Abel's wife for instance, isn't even done in the presence of other witnesses and I don't even think that Abel received any copy of the sales papers after the signing.

This seemed to be very a bit cavalier and nonchalant. I know that a large part of transactions among big players in less than honest businesses are probably done on trust, but still ... how realistic would this be in the real world?

[–] chicago85 10 years ago

This was probably some kind of binder, contingent upon the rest of the money 30 days later. That's when the paperwork kicks in big time.

I don't know everything. Neither does anyone else

[–] morgothbauglir 10 years ago

Just on a side note: I assume the wife could not sign in presence of the others because the orthodox Jews would not want to be in the same room with her. So this rather bizarre part of their faith was probably more important than legal standards.

Otherwise, in the regular business world it would also rather unusual to bring two suitcases full of cash to the signing of such a (pre-)contract. Taking that into account, the minimalist and casual approach to paperwork and procedures didn't seem too mind-boggling anymore. The whole deal made an unconventional, oldschool-ish appearance, which seems however not unrealistic among shady business partners back in the days..

[–] chicago85 10 years ago

The refusal to allow the wife to be present shows they are ultra orthodox Jews. There is a flap presently about them flying on airlines. Many refuse to sit next to a woman. Flight crews lean on these women to give up their assigned seat to placate these people. I say let them or the airline pay for my seat or get off the plane.

I think it was Des Moines years ago where they wanted buses to be divided with a curtain and women to have to sit in the back.

I could go on with more of the same but why bother.

I don't know everything. Neither does anyone else

[–] dyingearth 10 years ago

For the most part, Ultra Orthodox Jew handles business with a handshake. Since this is property, and not transposable commodity (like diamond), they need to have the paperwork. But as you can see, they keep it at a minimum. They didn't exactly use escrow, and just take the suitcase of money and sign over the deed.