TEHRAN-The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, California, screened Abbas Kiarostami’s 1987 movie “Where Is the Friend's House?” on Saturday as a part of its Family Matinees program.

The first of Kiarostami’s trilogy of films set in the village of Koker, the movie tells the story of Ahmad, an eight-year-old Iranian boy who ventures to a neighboring village in an attempt to return a schoolmate’s lost notebook to avoid the wrath of their teacher, ISNA reported.

Master filmmaker Kiarostami transformed this simple story into a vivid portrayal of the challenges of childhood and the indifference of adults. The auteur's subtle storytelling techniques, masterful use of landscape, and understated performances elevate the film to a touching and poetic experience.

This classic helped introduce the director to an international audience. It has received high praise from many critics and is still considered one of his finest works.

“Where is Friend's House?” captures the essence of Iranian village life through the lens of an innocent and charming story that is contemplative and sensitive. The film is a masterpiece that showcases Kiarostami's deep understanding of human emotions, modest filmmaking, and observation of intricate social and personal moments that go unnoticed by the world at large. The movie's simplicity is its strength and provides its viewers with a thoughtful and touching perspective on life.

The film has won several awards since its release, including the Bronze Leopard at the Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland and the Critics' Prize at the Sao Paulo International Film Festival, and the Pasinetti Award at the Venice Film Festival.

Kiarostami is recognized as a significant member of Iran's New Wave, a movement in Iranian cinema that rejected the commercialism of earlier Iranian cinema in favor of a more artistic and socially conscious approach to filmmaking.

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is a film museum opened in 2021 located in Los Angeles, California. The first large-scale museum of its kind in the United States, it houses more than 13 million objects and is dedicated to the history, science, and cultural impact of the film industry.

SS/SAB