| Director: | Bahram Beyzaie |
|---|---|
| Production: | Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (Kanoon) |
| Running Time: | 120’ |
| Language: | Persian, Arabic |
| Country: | Iran |
| Year: | 1989 |
| Main Cast: | Susan Taslimi, Parviz Poorhosseini, Adnan Afravian |
| Screenplay: | Bahram Beyzaie |
| Cinematographer: | Firouz Malakzadeh |
| Editor: | Bahram Beyzaie |
| Production Designer: | Bahram Beyzaie, Iraj Raminfar |
| Costume Designer: | Bahram Beyzaie, Iraj Raminfar |
| Sound: | Jahangir Mirshekari, Asghar Shahverdi, Behrouz Moavenian |
| Restoration: | Roashana Studios con il supporto dell’Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (KANOON) – presentato da mk2 Films |
Cinema
Bashu, gharibeye koochak (Bashu, the little stranger)
Venice Classics
synopsis
After his family is killed in a bombing, young Bashu flees southern Iran alone and arrives in a remote northern village. Unable to speak the local language and shunned as a little stranger, he is taken in by a mother of two whose husband is away. A fragile bond slowly begins to grow between them.
critic's note
"Bashu, the Little Stranger is a pure joy in which there are absolutely no false moves and both laughter as well as tears. Every movement of the camera, its every placement, its every composition, indeed, every cut in the film is exactly right, serving unobtrusively to tell a story. Yet because the film’s veteran writer-director Bahram Beyzaie, aided by the extraordinary cinematographer Firooz Malekzadeh, is first and foremost a storyteller, all sorts of subtle implications and symbols arise, in regard to anti-war as well as anti-racist sentiments. (Iranian audiences will probably suspect that rather than “job-hunting” Nai’s husband is actually off to war — especially considering his condition upon his return.) Bashu, the Little Stranger is finally a testament to the transforming power of love and its ability to transcend the limits of experience, education and ethnicity. Although just short of two hours, Bashu, the Little Stranger (Times-rated Mature; too intense for small children) is always brisk and lively; it’s as modest as it is flawless." (Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times)
PRODUCTION/DISTRIBUTION
PRODUCTION:
Institute For The Intellectual Development Of Children And Young Adults – KANOON
European representative: Dreamlab Films - Nasrine Médard de Chardon
Tel: +33 0493387561
E-mail: nasrine@dreamlabfilms.com
Web: www.dreamlabfilms.com/kanoon/
LAB:
Roashana Studios
RESTORATION CURATED BY: Kamran Saharkhiz
www.roashana.com
WORLD SALES:
mk2 Films - Frédérique Rouault
55, Rue Traversière
75012 Paris, France
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 67 32 56
E-mail: intlfest@mk2.com, frederique.rouault@mk2.com
Web: www.mk2films.com
PRESS OFFICE:
Benoît Claro - mk2 Films
55, Rue Traversière
75012 Paris, France
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 67 30 07
E-mail: benoit.claro@mk2.com
