User reviews

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'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.

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.

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!

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.

An 8 year old boy must return his friend's notebook he took by mistake, lest his friend be punished by expulsion from school.

Iranian filmmaker Bahman Ghobadi said that "I always have this film in mind because of the director's profound perspective on filmmaking and its strange and distinct structure." Indeed, this film is quite good, and not surprisingly has found its way to a number of "top ten" lists.

If they don't already, colleges really need something like a "modern Iranian film" class. For most of my life, Iran has been seen as this terrible place. And it is films like these that show, regardless of whatever our governments may think, the people of Iran are a generally good people. We must not confuse the people of a country with the rhetoric of its leaders.

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.

I think a good deal of it went over my head, but maybe that's on me for going in expecting something simple and potentially even family-friendly. I guess it is those two things, on the surface, because it's got a very low-key premise involving one student trying to find another, so he can give him back an exercise book that he might be expelled if he's found without. Nothing too intense or confronting happens, and while it doesn't scream "kid's movie" by any means, I guess it could be watched by anyone of any age, provided they're patient enough.

This is the first Abbas Kiarostami film I've watched in a while, and it did feel more accessible than I remember the others being. But skimming over other people's reviews, I don't think I fully got everything others have out of it. Yet what I did experience I still thought was good; it's very natural and grounded, and you do get invested in its super simple premise.

While the film shows that even the simplest of tasks can become some of the hardest, it's just so dull. Almost everyone in this film is beyond narrow-minded and most of the journey feels not adventurous but more tedious and annoying instead.

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.

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!

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.

Somehow this film reminds me of Italian Neorealismo - early works of Visconti and De Sica. Probably socio-economic situation may be similar in Italy in 40s and in contemporary Iran. While the film may be seen as an adorable children tale domestically, it serves as an objectively described introduction to rural life in Iran internationally.

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"

Everyone who's ever complained about Kiarostami's films being dull just might have their case in point with this early film of his. Though I've found "Close Up," "Taste of Cherry" and "The Wind Will Carry Us" fascinating, this film contained limited rewards, offering little of the philosophical subtext Kiarostami is renowned for.

The Iranian movie Khane-ye doust kodjast? (1987) was shown in the U.S. with the translated title, Where is the Friend's Home? It was written and directed by Abbas Kiraostami.

The movie is set in the rural Iranian village of Kokar. Babek Ahmedpour portrays Ahmed, a young schoolboy who inadvertently takes home his friend's notebook. That would normally just be annoying. However, in this case, it's truly serious. Their teacher has told them that if his friend again doesn't bring his homework to school, he'll be expelled.

Ahmed starts out on an odyssey to a neighboring village in order to bring the assignment book to his friend. Along the way he meets an unusual set of characters. Some are friendly, some are not, although no one is hostile. They just don't know where the friend lives.

Kiraostami isn't a Hollywood director. There are an infinite number of ways to begin this movie, but the way Kiraostami begins it is unique. We see an old, battered door. Behind that door we hear children's voices. OK--let's get inside and see what's happening.

That's not what Kiraostami does. He shows us the door. Then he keeps showing us the door. We don't want to see the door, we want to see the kids. For Kiraostami, that's our problem, not his.

Finally, when the teacher arrives, he opens and closes the door. However, the door swings open. By this time, the door is playing a supporting role in the movie. You can call this strange, or you can call this brilliance. I go with the latter.

Young Babek Ahmedpour is a great child actor. We agonize with him while he gets caught up in a high-pressure salesman trying to sell iron windows, and the old man who made the wood windows that may be replaced. Time is running short, and the old man wants to help, but he's too old to walk quickly. When you're eight, this is a nightmare.

Where is the Friend's Home is a wonderful movie, which works well on the small screen. It's the film that brought Kiraostami to the notice of the world. It has a very high IMDb rating of 8.1. I think it's even better than that.

The cinematography, colours, textuters, depth and camera handling is outerwordly as are the actors where it is impossible to tell who are the professionals and who are not. The story is compelling but this slow pace does not help the story go forward. It is tedious to watch and I rather've seen more stuning landscape and city scenes.

I've not seen an Iranian film before so i thought I would start with one by iconic director Abbas Kiarostami.

The film reminds me of a recurring dream I sometimes have of trying to get somewhere but being distracted and slowed down by laborious people and tasks. Watching this film was like reliving one of those dreams. The young Ahmed cannot seem to get a break as he navigates the quaint streets of an Iranian village trying to return his school chum's workbook. All the time being held up by tiresome adults who seem hell bent on slowing his progress as they subject the poor boy to banal conversation.

If the story line is tiresome the cinematography is not. The composition of the camera work is quite stunning as we follow Ahmed on his quest, it captures the essence of the village perfectly. A pleasant soundtrack accompanies the film too. Still, these pleasing aspects fail to improve on what is a very tiresome and tedious film. I suggest avoiding at all costs.