Où est la maison de mon ami?

This is a very enjoyable, slow-paced, yet uniquely enthralling movie. The plot is simple; a young boy must return a school notebook, taken by accident, to his classmate so he can do his homework for the next day. If his friend doesn't get it done he may be expelled. Immediately you are drawn into this simple task, seeing this child's often futile efforts to be acknowledged by the adults around him, empathizing with his difficulties.

A strange sense of foreboding begins to prevail as you await the outcome of his efforts. Will he complete his task and get home before dusk? Why is it so hard to get a straight answer from any of these adults?

The music is often enchanting and contributes much to the atmosphere. Personally I love the old blacksmith he runs into in the neighboring village. An old friendly man with a deep passion for making windows and doors. The life of the village and its history could be seen through the eyes of this old gent, but truly, the boy, has simply got to return this notebook!

If you want to chill out and watch a wonderful tale unfold over just 80 short minutes then go watch this movie. You won't be disappointed.

Actually it's hard to find any more words to define this masterpiece than the ones in the title of this review. If you are looking for something that would make you feel like you're reading a classic short story rather than watching a film, then this one is right that film. When you watch a film you have the vision, the sound, the effects, the music; almost nothing's left to your imagination and you watch the film effortlessly. Eventually, the story is misted over. On the other hand, in Khane-ye doust kodjast?, Kiarostami with his fascinating simplicity, takes you deep into a world of childish innocence. Everything from acting to cameras, is full of that precious amateur feeling. You actually feel amazed when you see how well Kiarostami managed to get such natural acting from a cast of all non-professional actors. Each character, each scene is tailored with Kiarostami's masterful observations. The film is so purely simple that, for a second, I even wished we didn't even have the music that plays only in two scenes, though I loved it. I personally believe, it really is a piece of art than a film.

Abbas Kiarostami is a director from Iran. His movies are not shown in his native country. But elsewhere in the world he is a critically acclaimed director. His output in the 90's has been tremendously acclaimed and he is called the best or the most important director of the 90's.However before that came the beautiful " Where is the friend's home?" in 1987.

This movie is one of the most human movies I have ever seen. The story is quite simple. A little boy keeps forgetting to do his homework in the book and finally he is threatened with dire consequences. His friend has the book and must return it.

But the story has so much warmth and is shown with so much beauty that it is impossible not to like the film. The characters that we see throughout the movie are very nicely drawn out. Ahmed's interactions with the old man at the end are so beautiful and filled with emotion that I am brimming with joy just recalling those moments.

Akira Kurosawa said of his films, " When Satyajit Ray dies I was sad. But Abbas has taken his place"

A true masterpiece. When I watched it in 2015, 28 years after the movie was made, I am ashamed of my time wasted watching Hollywood movies, which had no substance. I watched movies when it was box office hits. This movie showed me what life is, what movie making is all about, how to tell a story. I felt human life to my bare bones. I feel I'm human again. The slow moving pace of the movie , is amazingly engaging, as I was absorbed in the child's journey as if it my own. I wish more parents, teachers and elders would watch it. In this age, we lack empathy, hence we lost touch with our human values. This movie is a masterpiece.

This dear and simple story is the most wonderful film I have seen this year. The children are non-actors who bring a reality and wonder to this film that is sadly absent from American films, and you will be left in awe by their performances.

The story involves a little boy who must track down his friend to give him a notebook, or his friend may be kicked out of school. All along the way he is blocked from this quest to "do the right thing" but adults who are too stuck on their own silly business to listen to him and offer assistance. Instead of helping this sincere and good child, they do everything imaginable to block him. How very real this situation is, and how refreshing to see adults forced to examine the condescending way they communicate with children. The child Ahmed in this film is a refreshing hero for little boys... so much better than the smart-alleck and spoiled brats offered up in American films. It is a beautiful story, and it is a beautiful experience to sit and take in this magnificent film!