The film centres on a white director working with a troupe of Romas with severely underprivileged backgrounds. The troupe members are former heroin addicts, ex-homeless people, juvenile delinquents, victims of rape and abuse. The play they make together presents with false sincerity the unvarnished truth of their real experiences — in other words, the play capitalises on their misery. Following one of their performances, the actors get tired of being taken advantage of and leave the troupe. The troupe finally reunites out of practical reasons: the play is invited to Berlin’s most prominent theatre and the prestigious festival promises to furnish them all with fame and fortune.
"Three Thousand Numbered Pieces constantly plays with the notion of truth and fact through a fractured narrative. /.../ This is easily one of the best films of the year. Hopefully, it will get the attention it deserves. The film is everything that this year’s Palme d’Or winner is not, and it never feels either square or superficial." (Christer Emanuelsson, The Disapproving Swede)