Introduction
Movies can often be presented in various ways and feature multiple references and methods throughout the filmmaking process. Kiarostami’s Where Is the Friend’s House is one of those movies that includes characteristics of a documentary, despite being purely fictional. It tells the story of a boy trying to return his friend’s notebook to prevent the latter’s expulsion if he does not bring it.
Film Analysis
Use of Shooting Distance and Realistic Acting
The first feature I noticed about the movie is the shooting distance. It makes the viewer feel as though they are observing the events in real life. Besides, it makes the work seem more realistic, which benefits it greatly.
As mentioned at the beginning of the movie, the actors are not professionals. This is another strong aspect of this piece in particular, as the audience is focused on the plot rather than a famous actor, as in other pieces. Music is rarely used in the movie, which accentuates the goal of making it seem realistic.
Pacing and Attention to Mundane Details
The movie’s pacing is neither too rapid nor choppy. This decision seems like another feature of pieces that rely on realism or a mood reminiscent of a documentary. Every single detail is preserved in the movie, even if it may be too mundane at first glance. These routine elements help create a whole picture that contributes to the description of the environment and the characters.
Contrasting Perspectives of Children and Adults
The director contrasts the worlds of children and adults. This is evident in Where Is the Friend’s House as well, where the adults are portrayed as somewhat sorrowful and, at times, too busy to respond appropriately to the main character. For example, the boy’s mother initially fails to pay attention to his situation, leading him to retell the problem multiple times (Kiarostami).
The children in the movie, on the other hand, are shown as emotional and impulsive to a certain degree. Ahmad chooses to disobey the orders by going to his classmate’s location. The close-ups accentuate the internal conflict as he makes that decision and finally goes to the other place.
Natural Lighting and Environmental Realism
The director typically incorporates natural lighting into the movie. Specifically, during the day, light comes from the sun. Meanwhile, late evening scenes are typically dark, though there are a few rare exceptions. For example, there is one scene in which a dark environment is lit with a floodlight; however, it is intentionally switched off later. This makes the viewer feel as though they are present with the boy in this location.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Kiarostami’s movie Where Is the Friend’s House tells the story of a boy who wants to return a notebook to his classmate. The work preserves many of the features of documentaries, even though all of the events are fictitious. The camera angle and the absence of music lend the plot a sense of realism, immersing the audience in the story.
There is indeed a clear distinction between the adult world and the child, with the former being rather pessimistic. Finally, another beneficial aspect of the movie is its ambiguity, which allows the director to elicit the audience’s sympathy for the characters. This serves as a perfect reflection of real life, as it is also full of ambiguity.
Work Cited
Kiarostami, Abbas. Where Is the Friend’s House. Directed by Abbas Kiarostami, 1987.