Where Is the Friend's House? (Khaneye doust Kodjast?)
Retrospective of a Cinematic Master
/ Feature Narrative / Iran / 1987 / Colour
In Persian / Arabic, English subtitles
No Premiere
Rated: Parental guidance is advised. Some material may be inappropriate for young children.
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Synopsis
‘Where Is the Friend’s House?’ is the film that brought Kiarostami worldwide acclaim and established him as a truly visionary filmmaker. Its structure, a simple plot designed adorned with substantial detail, shows the director’s immense and delicate skill with naturalistic visual storytelling. Brilliant performances from his young actors – a hallmark of so much of his work – make for a charming, poignant view of everyday life in a village in rural Iran.
Eight-year-old Ahmed (Babek Ahmed Poor), mistakenly takes his schoolmate Mohamed’s (Ahmed Ahmed Poor) notebook home after school. Conscious that Mohamed will be punished if he doesn’t do his homework, the conscientious boy decides to look for his friend’s house so he can return the book. The obstacles to this benevolent quest – his mother refuses to give him permission to make the trip to the neighbouring village, and finding Mohamed’s home is no easy task – make up the bulk of the story. As Ahmed goes from door to door asking directions, we get a portrait of everyday life in rural Iran; by using non-professional actors and local settings, Kiarostami brilliantly uses reality in service to his fiction.
The film was awarded a Bronze Leopard and received special mentions from the FIPRESCI and Ecumenical Prize juries at the Locarno Film Festival in 1989, and is one of the British Film Institute’s recommendations of 50 films to see before the age of 14.