The White Balloon

Iran 1995 (subtitles)
85 minutes
Directed by Jafar Panahi
Leading players - Aida Mohammadkhani, Mohsen Kalifi, Fereshteh Sadr Orfani

Synopsis

'The White Balloon' is an Iranian film about the preparations for the coming Persian New Year. As the story starts, 7-year-old Razieh (Aida Mohammadkhani) decides that she is determined to buy a goldfish that she saw in a nearby shop. Reluctantly, her mother gives Razieh a 500-toman note, but on her way to the shop the little girl loses the money. There then begins a frantic pursuit where Razieh explores forbidden territories, meeting new people and unexpected adventures. In dramatising her efforts to retrieve the money, the film shows that no one can want anything as much as a child does.

* * * * * *

The White Balloon is an entertaining drama of universal appeal, and it is wonderfully open to life's coincidences and consequences. It is hard to believe that such a film could offend the Iranian authorities, but shortly after its release the Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance decided that it should be withdrawn. Despite being banned in its own country, The White Balloon has proved popular elsewhere, and in 1995 it won the 'Camera d'Or' at the Cannes Film Festival.

The film conveys an unmistakeable flavour of life in Tehran today, and it is winningly played out by a cast of carefully chosen actors, keenly observed by Farzad Jowdat's photography. The script is written by one of Iran's finest filmmakers, Abbas Kiarostami.

'The White Balloon' is Jafar Panahi's first film, and is a charming and suspenseful modern fairy tale.