A Girl, a Goldfish, and a Snapshot of Iranian Society: Jafar Panahi's The White Balloon (1995)

The White Balloon (Badkonake Sefid, 1995) is the feature-film debut of acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi. It chronicles seven-year-old Razieh's quest to buy a goldfish for the Persian New Year. Through the minor challenges the girl kid faces to fulfill her quest, Mr. Panahi offers us a fascinating snapshot of modern Iranian society. Jafar Panahi, who shares the poetic sensibility of his mentor Abbas Kiarostami, creatively and elegantly stages this tale of a child confronting the adult world.
#iraniancinema
0:00 The Children of Iranian Cinema
2:05 Razieh Desires for a Chubby Goldfish
4:52 Children in Panahi's Movies
7:23 The Narrative and Visual Strategies in The White Balloon
9:00 The Haunting Reality of a Balloon-Selling Boy