Where is the Friend's Home? - A multi-layered masterpiece

Master of minimalism Abbas Kiarostami is one the greatest craftsmen to have ever helmed the affairs behind the camera. Where is the Friend's Home? is the Iranian auteur's first in a string of movies to have received global acclaim.

In this film, the first of what is called the Koker Trilogy (the other ones are Life, and Nothing More...& Through the Olive Trees), an eight-year-old boy (Ahmed) mistakenly brings home from school his friend's notebook. He must give it back to his friend, who lives in a neighbouring village, otherwise the poor boy will be expelled from class by their hyper-strict teacher. Ahmed's predicament is he doesn't know 'where is the friend's home.'

Ahmed's altruistic pursuit leads him to comeacrsoss a bunch of adults, most of whom are indifferent and apathetic towards his concern and often misguide him in his quest. As our protagonist zigzags between the two villages -- Koker and Posteh -- unrelentingly, the film exposes us to the breathtaking landscapes of rural Iran, their people's rich culture and myriad hues. The camera focus on the exquisite doors and windows of the villages (a motif frequently used throughout the film), the silhouetted images during Ahmed's traverses and the close-up shots of his innocent-looking appearance make for an unforgettable cinematic experience.

   

As a social commentary, the movie exposes the problems faced by the lower middle class families in rural Iran. A constant reminder is how children belonging to such families often struggle to finish their homework as they tend to household chores or are sent on errands by their parents and elders. This forms the subject matter of Kiarostami's subsequent documentary Homework (1989). 

Kiraostami's realism is evident in his focus on non-acting as he ropes in children as well as adults of the Koker village instead of of professional actors. Inspired by a poem by Iranian philosopher Sohrab Sepehri, Where is the Friend's Home? explores concepts such as altruism, innocence, child psychology, humanism, realism, and above all friendship as the celebrated Lebanese-American poet Kahlil Gibran says, "Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity." Building up a subject which is difficult to substantiate beyond fifteen minutes into a feature film is something Kiarostami has mastered like no one else. This tale of childhood kindness in an adult world is a multi-layered masterpiece. 10/10