Where Is the Friend's Home? (1987)

100% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
90% of users liked it
(2,282 ratings)

The film that established director Abbas Kiarostami's reputation outside his native Iran, Where Is the Friend's Home? tells a simple story in such a spare fashion, many critics found its impact to be almost subliminal. As the film opens Ahmed (Ahmed Ahmed Poor), a grade schooler, watches as his… More The film that established director Abbas Kiarostami's reputation outside his native Iran, Where Is the Friend's Home? tells a simple story in such a spare fashion, many critics found its impact to be almost subliminal. As the film opens Ahmed (Ahmed Ahmed Poor), a grade schooler, watches as his teacher (Kheda Barech Defai) berates a fellow student, Mohammed (Babek Ahmed Poor), for repeatedly failing to use his notebook for his homework , threatening expulsion on the next offense. When Ahmed returns home, he realizes he's accidentally taken Mohammed's notebook. Against his mother's orders, he sets out in search Mohammed's house, encountering false leads, dead ends, and distractions as he attempts to enlist adults in his search. ~ Keith Phipps, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 23 min.
Directed By: Abbas Kiarostami
Written By: Abbas Kiarostami
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1987 Limited
On DVD: Sep 25, 1996
Studio: Mongrel Media

Critic Reviews

Sean Axmaker, Parallax View
On one level Kiarostami paints a society rooted in authoritarian demands, but on another he reminds how us kids get lost in the grown-up world of business and responsibility.
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Or: How the whole world can fit into an Our Gang episode
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
I highly recommend all of Abbas Kiarostami's films, but to start with I'd suggest Where Is the Friend's Home, the simplest and most moving of his films.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner
Kiarostami makes masterful use out of a complex landscape and winds up with a great, moving film.
Jon Popick, Planet Sick-Boy
The closest thing I've ever seen to an Iranian action film.
Jeremy Heilman, MovieMartyr.com
It's only because so many directors have done more with a similar set-up that Where is the Friend's Home? feels somewhat lacking.
John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews
Even though very little takes place, the eighty-three minutes seem to fly by in real time.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Kiarostami's relentless pursuit is poetically evocative.

Read all 8 critic reviews

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Cast

Ahmed Ahmed Poor
as Ahmed
Babek Ahmed Poor
as Mohamed Reda Nematzadeh
Kheda Barech Defai
as Teacher

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