Must See Movie...

Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

This film captures the emotions of a small boy brilliantly. Facing a crisis that (as usual) none of the adults around him seem to appreciate, he sets off on an adventure that would have been of epic proportions if it had been scaled up to compare with the experiences of any grown-up. Is Where Is the Friend's Home simple? Yes, while also very subtle. It operates on multiple levels. This movie is one of the most human movies I have ever seen. The story is quite simple. A little boy keeps forgetting to do his homework in the book and finally he is threatened with dire consequences. His friend has the book and must return it. But the story has so much warmth and is shown with so much beauty that it is impossible not to like the film. The characters that we see throughout the movie are very nicely drawn out. Ahmed's interactions with the old man at the end are so beautiful and filled with emotion that I am brimming with joy just recalling those moments.

I have just watched this film on Turner Classic Movies and have to say that Where Is The Friend's Home? ranks up there with Truffaut's 400 Blows as one of the most beautiful and honest films about childhood I have ever seen. It is the kind of film where one wants to throw one's arms around the director and thank him for creating something so pure and true. The courage and sheer determination of the little boy as he attempts to find his friend's home was such an inspiring story that was told with such simple and eloquent grace. Simply beautiful! It saddens me to hear that both of the boys and the village in which the film was made were destroyed in the North Iran earthquakes.

This is a very enjoyable, slow-paced, yet uniquely enthralling movie. The plot is simple; a young boy must return a school notebook, taken by accident, to his classmate so he can do his homework for the next day. If his friend doesn't get it done he may be expelled. Immediately you are drawn into this simple task, seeing this child's often futile efforts to be acknowledged by the adults around him, empathizing with his difficulties. A strange sense of foreboding begins to prevail as you await the outcome of his efforts. Will he complete his task and get home before dusk? Why is it so hard to get a straight answer from any of these adults?The music is often enchanting and contributes much to the atmosphere. Personally I love the old blacksmith he runs into in the neighboring village. An old friendly man with a deep passion for making windows and doors. The life of the village and its history could be seen through the eyes of this old gent, but truly, the boy, has simply got to return this notebook!If you want to chill out and watch a wonderful tale unfold over just 80 short minutes then go watch this movie. You won't be disappointed.

This was my first Kiarostami's movie. There could not be a better one. Some trademarks of his movies are minimal dialogs, slow pace, purposeful and realistic acting. Many conversations happen during the ride on a car moving at gentle speed. A stark contrast of what we are used to. Yet, his movies touch you right in the heart. You get very involved with the characters. His movies never get overtly sentimental. He remarked in an interview that he doesn't like to cheat with the audiences."Where is the Friend's Home?" offers an insight into the simplistic and innocent world of childhood. Adults do not really see and appreciate that world. Watching this movie is a completely different experience. And writing a lot about this movie does not make a lot of sense. You can hardly wait to watch "And Life Goes on". A must watch if you are into the art of beautiful cinema.