The White Balloon (Badkonake sefid) (1995)
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80% of critics liked it
(20 reviews) -
86% of users liked it
(1,602 ratings)
Iranian filmmaker Jafar Pinahi's debut feature The White Balloon tells the story of Razieh (Aida Mohammadkhani), a seven-year-old girl intent on buying a new goldfish in time for Tehran's annual New Year's Day festivities (in Iranian culture, the goldfish is a symbol of life). Upon… More Iranian filmmaker Jafar Pinahi's debut feature The White Balloon tells the story of Razieh (Aida Mohammadkhani), a seven-year-old girl intent on buying a new goldfish in time for Tehran's annual New Year's Day festivities (in Iranian culture, the goldfish is a symbol of life). Upon badgering her mother into giving her a 500-toman banknote, Razieh heads off to the marketplace alone; it is her first real experience away from her parents' watchful eyes, and the excitement and wonder she feels is palpable. Told in real time, the film's sensitive portrayal of Razieh's wide-eyed misadventures superbly conveys the impact which an otherwise unremarkable chain of events can indelibly leave upon the life of a child. Her struggle to prove her independence is dramatically undercut when she loses the banknote not once but twice, but her spirit and ingenuity nevertheless remain indefatigable. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi
- Directed By
- Jafar Panahi
- Genres
- Drama, Kids & Family, Art House & International
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Nov 27, 1995 Wide
- Studio
- October Films
Critic Reviews
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Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
By putting itself in sync with the rhythms of everyday life, it offers a reminder that the simplest forms of filmmaking can be the most satisfying.
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Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle
We need to fall in love with Razieh to see the film properly, and we do.
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Andy Spletzer, Film.com
Raziah takes everything at face value, forcing us to look again at people and situations we would immediately judge as good or bad -- reason enough to see this film.
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Tom Keogh, Film.com
Panahi brings film back to its elemental magic.
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Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
Memorably simple, memorably resonant.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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