Where Is the Friend's House? (1987)
Director: Abbas Kiarostami
Stars: Babek Ahmed Poor, Ahmed Ahmed Poor, Khodabakhsh Defaei
Runtime: 73 minutes
Synopsis: An 8-year-old boy must return his friend's notebook he took by mistake, lest his friend be punished by expulsion from school.
Performances: 8/10
Screenplay: 8/10
Editing: 7/10
Cinematography: 7/10
Score/Soundtrack: 7/10
Screenplay: 8/10
Editing: 7/10
Cinematography: 7/10
Score/Soundtrack: 7/10
Verdict: The first installment in the unofficial Koker trilogy directed by legendary Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami proves that a simple premise can sometimes be very rewarding. "Where Is the Friend's House?" follows the journey of young Ahmed who, after noticing that he packed his classmate's notebook by mistake, decides against his mother's will to wander around the streets of a nearby village in order to find that friend's house and save him from being expelled the next day.
Shot on location only 3 years before a devastating earthquake hit that same village, the movie not only succeeds in depicting the everyday life of the residents of rural Iran but also says a lot about the heroism of small tasks such as the one Ahmed sets his mind on. All he wants is to do the right thing, and the only obstacles he faces are the adults surrounding him, who in the name of honor, tradition, and tough education would rather see him do his homework or do unnecessary duties instead. It's heartwarming to see such an innocent mind be so determined to see his mission through despite being told otherwise, and it's impossible not to root for a character so brilliantly portrayed by the young Babek Ahmed Poor.
The BFI chose this film as one of their top ten to see by the age of 14 and it's very clear to see why. Abbas Kiarostami truly crafted a little gem of a movie that goes from A to point Z without really overcomplicating things. It's a light but very rewarding watch that I cannot recommend enough, and one that most certainly encouraged me to check out the other two installments in that unofficial trilogy.
Shot on location only 3 years before a devastating earthquake hit that same village, the movie not only succeeds in depicting the everyday life of the residents of rural Iran but also says a lot about the heroism of small tasks such as the one Ahmed sets his mind on. All he wants is to do the right thing, and the only obstacles he faces are the adults surrounding him, who in the name of honor, tradition, and tough education would rather see him do his homework or do unnecessary duties instead. It's heartwarming to see such an innocent mind be so determined to see his mission through despite being told otherwise, and it's impossible not to root for a character so brilliantly portrayed by the young Babek Ahmed Poor.
The BFI chose this film as one of their top ten to see by the age of 14 and it's very clear to see why. Abbas Kiarostami truly crafted a little gem of a movie that goes from A to point Z without really overcomplicating things. It's a light but very rewarding watch that I cannot recommend enough, and one that most certainly encouraged me to check out the other two installments in that unofficial trilogy.
FINAL GRADE: 8/10
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