Homework

This documentary is released in 1989, but obviously is filmed at least 2 or 3 years before that, as they talk several times about the war with Saddam.

Even though I was born in 1991, and didn't went to school until 1996 (almost 10 years after this documentary is filmed) but I totally understand this little, innocent fellas, Because I raised under the same toxic educational system. Everyday, I faced emotional abuse as well as physical abuse of myself or my classmates in the school. To be honest, I really do not remember even a single happy day at school, and that makes me really sad.

By watching this documentary, I remembered that I had a teacher in elementary school who touched kids too, in a sexual manner. Even though I didn't let him touch me and he refused to do that again after one or two tries, but I had seen sexual abuse of my friends in the class, in front of other classmates. We were under pressure, and we never educated to talk about sexual abuse, it was a shame for ourselves to talk about such things, and they did what they wanted with us, with no worries at all.

Watching this documentary bring back all those bad memories of school years. I feel pitty for myself, my classmates, and my generation in general.

It was by far the hardest film I have ever seen. My eyes was wet all over the film, for several times, I had to pause it for minutes and take a walk before continue watching it, and just before ending, when that poor little fella started singing Ey Khoda (O God), by hearing the first verse, I couldn't control myself anymore and started crying. Only those who raised in such educational system, can fully understand emotional and physical abuse that this Kiarostami is trying to picture.

P. S. For those of you who are wondering about current status of the education system of Iran, well, even though I do not have a kid myself, but as I know, educational system is changed a lot, in a good way, physical abuse is forbidden and homeworks are much less than before, but it is still far from an ideal system. Even today, we still read in news about physical abuse in school (several poor little fellas hospitalized or even died, and I'm sure there is much more cases which do not goes public at all).

The point that amazes me is the power of Kiarostami's films to make you smile, laugh, or cry at the same time. I can sense many more emotions in the movie because I speak Persian, and I'm glad that Kiarostami and I speak the same language. I suggest that all of you also watch "Where is the Friend's House" movie. At the end of seeing these movies by Kiarostami, you are happy that you didn't waste your time, and I think that is because he shoots from the heart. The depth and sincerity in Kiarostami's films truly touch the soul and leave a lasting impact. I highly recommend exploring his filmography to experience the magic of his storytelling and filmmaking.

A nice little documentary about parenting in Iran, from the child's point of view, in as much as it presents the parents attitudes to their children reguarding education. And the children infront of the camera say more than any adult could, as is always the way. Unfortunatly the director spends a little too much time explaining himself at the begining, talking about what kind of film he might or might not make in a slightly pretentious way. And the continual cutting from child to camera man (the director himself, looking directorly) doesn't quite work. But when the children are left to just get on with it the film flows along nicely. A useful insight into Iran, a country that, despite the recent wave of movies, remains shamefully unknown to the average European or American.

I've only recently discovered Kiarostami. In the last few weeks I've watched "The Wind will Carry Us", "Under the Olive Trees" and now "Homework". Yes, they are slow. No they are not action packed, exciting or epic. But in each case, I'm glad I persevered. "Homework" is probably the slowest of the three I've seen, and I have to admit I did consider giving up after half an hour or so. But when it finished, I was very glad I'd watched it. The conclusion is very moving, but has to be seen in the context of the whole film, so don't just jump to the end.

What his films show you is that Iranian people are very much like you and me. Each has his or her own problems and concerns. Kiarostami finds beauty and intensity in what appear to be mundane situations. He has a great eye for simple situations which have wider implications. A great director.

I had the great privilege of being invited with several other students to sample " herbal tea " and documentaries at the home of a university film tutor who we shall call Tony . Ah yes " herbal tea " and I'm educated enough to know what a euphemism is . Tony was a perfect host and as we waited for the herbal tea to brew we stood admiring his book collection . Every book on philosophy was on view as was every book written by every film critic . Tony returned to the living room carrying a tray containing herbal tea and cake to which we helped ourselves . We discussed amid much chin rubbing what documentary we should watch . I was too interested in the herbal tea to take part in the ballot but the students took a vote and it was decided we would watch Abbas Kiarostami's HOMEWORK and I sat back on the sofa waiting for the herbal tea to take effect . Unfortunately I quickly realised two things . Firstly that the "herbal tea " was herbal tea and not cannabis leaves and secondly that HOMEWORK was going to be a rather boring documentary

The documentary gets off to what might be classed as a vaguely interesting start has lines of Persian boys aged about 7 or 8 years old shouting " DOWN WITH SADDAM " which gives you a clue what period it was filmed . It goes down downhill from here though due to Kiarostami insisting on filming the documentary via talking head interviews . Hence we see a male child being asked " Do you do your homework ? " or " Who helps you with your homework ? " or " do you get beaten if you don't do your homework " or " Do you watch cartoons " . This goes on and on ad nuseuem and quickly becomes tedious . It also begs the question as to what the audience are actually learning via these interviews . Is it even revealed what the cartoons are ?

There are some interesting comments such as when a child says his father captured a couple of Iraqi sailors , chopped their heads off and threw their bodies into the sea ( Compare this how Iran presently treats captured sailors ) , the wailing child who hopefully hasn't found courage in the interceding years and is now employed as head of the Iranian army and the father who rambles on and on only stopping to say " Would you like to ask me a question ? " . There's one other interesting point and that is the amount of children who want to become engineers and you can't help wondering if they went on to build a nuclear power plant

But this is a fairly uninteresting and dare I say pointless documentary and I don't want to say anything more positive about it as you may feel as disappointed by it as I was disappointed by Tony's herbal tea . I'll certainly be taking advantage of my host's hospitality in the near future but I doubt if I'll be going out of my way to watch anymore Abbas Kiarostami documentaries