Dov'è la casa del mio amico?

I'm sorry I've seen this movie doubled in Spanish and not subtitled in Portuguese but, even so, I found it lovely. It is all about how children live in the adult's world and how they perceive and deal with them. It is also about how children can understand each other and help each other to survive the power and rules of adults. It is filmed very closely to the children which means we see the adults, houses, streets and landscapes from their point of view. The story is very well written, playing very wisely with our expectations. It is an almost timeless and universal story but the where and when it happens is brilliant.

A simple, sweet & soul-stirring account of a young boy's quest to do the right thing, Where Is the Friend's House is a gently crafted & sincerely narrated story about the inherent goodness in all of us and through the eyes of its 8-year old protagonist, it covers the themes of morality, conscience, righteousness, determination & everyday heroics while also shedding light on the hypocrisy & beliefs of the adults around him.

Written, directed & edited by Abbas Kiarostami, the film takes a very simple & straightforward premise and formulates an endlessly captivating narrative out of it through scenarios that not only seem credible but also make us all the more invested in the kid's journey & final outcome. Kiarostami keeps the drama as lifelike as possible, neither overstuffing it nor leaving it hollow, and makes sure every single scene is relevant to the plot.

Through the lens of childhood purity & innocence, we notice the indifference of adults as our young protagonist attempts to make them see reason to his dilemma and why it is important for him to right the wrong. And Babak Ahmadpour plays his character to absolute perfection. He gets every emotion, every nuance, every expression right without saying much, his face a landscape of moral conflict that explicitly tells all he's feeling in the moment.

Overall, Where is the Friend's House is a masterwork of simplicity & humanism that takes the smallest of observations to offer a powerfully resonant & profoundly moving statement about our own society. A fascinating slice of everyday life in rural Iran that's steered by Kiarostami's relaxed approach & first-rate craftsmanship and is further elevated by the young actor's top-notch performance, this Persian gem is a must for every film lover & is one of world cinema's finest offerings.

A magnificent and unforgettable film with prodigious moments where you really wonder how the director did shoot some moments in such an intimate way without being noticed or without making the presence of the camera a problem. It's a poem (to friendship, honesty, childhood, purity) more than a movie.

I saw this movie when I was 15 and really enjoyed it at that time because I could find myself instead of the boy playing in the movie. I was older than him, but I felt there was something, let's say, close connection between us. That was the best movie I had ever seen. I learned many things about life and the world around me. Everyone could see simplicity and honesty in his eyes. After 10 years I saw the movie again when I was around 25; and the interesting thing was that I had the same feeling! I didn't know why? But when I look at that precisely I think the story of our life is so simple: When you do good, you feel good and when you do bad you feel bad! Kiarostami visualizes the whole story simply and memorably, it doesn't matter at what age you are watching the movie, just you can feel it, touch it and live it!

This was my first Kiarostami's movie. There could not be a better one. Some trademarks of his movies are minimal dialogs, slow pace, purposeful and realistic acting. Many conversations happen during the ride on a car moving at gentle speed. A stark contrast of what we are used to. Yet, his movies touch you right in the heart. You get very involved with the characters. His movies never get overtly sentimental. He remarked in an interview that he doesn't like to cheat with the audiences.

"Where is the Friend's Home?" offers an insight into the simplistic and innocent world of childhood. Adults do not really see and appreciate that world. Watching this movie is a completely different experience. And writing a lot about this movie does not make a lot of sense. You can hardly wait to watch "And Life Goes on".

A must watch if you are into the art of beautiful cinema.