A classic Kiarostami considered his first masterpiece.
Shot in black-and-white, Kiarostami’s neorealistic first feature is also considered his first masterpiece. Young Qassem becomes consumed by a single passion: to see a soccer game in Tehran at any cost. Despite his misbehaving and failure at school, this quest exposes how resourceful, smart, adventurous and brave the frustrated little rebel is. As his desperation grows, so do the lengths he goes to find money for his trip—including lying, stealing, suffering painful punishment and, most audaciously, taking money for photo portraits of his classmates using a camera that is actually broken. Despite Hassan’s monomaniacal focus, Kiarostami creates deep empathy for and identification with this underdog who follows his dreams, no matter how reckless or ridiculous. Hassan takes definitive action despite the most daunting forces standing in his way, yet even this drive can be waylaid by arbitrary capriciousness or, perhaps, mere exhaustion.
Phone: 617-496-3211
Email: bgravely@fas.harvard.edu
2022/09/12 - 2022/09/12
Harvard Film Archive
Harvard Film Archive Cinematheque, Cambridge, MA 02138
Although parking in Cambridge is difficult (most of the surrounding streets have restricted parking for Cambridge residents only), metered parking on Broadway and Harvard Streets, as well as the rest of Harvard Square, is free after 8pm. Film-goers are encouraged to use public transportation, particularly the MBTA Red Line.
Film has English subtitles