Please note: This was screened in June 2015
This launched Abbas Kiarostami (Certified Copy, Close Up) onto the world stage, heralded the arrival of Iranian neo-realism, and set the prototype for Iranian "kid quest" movies. Nominally the story of a young boy who must return his friend's notebook he took by mistake, in case his friend is punished by being expelled from school.
On one level this moving story reveals a society rooted in authoritarian demands, but also reminds us how children can be easily damaged by the responsibilities of the grown-up world. A beautiful tale of friendship, this deceptively simple gem has the rigour and haunting resonance of Kiarostami’s best work.
Love Iranian cinema? Then don't miss A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, opening Fri 22 May.