IMDb > Badkonake sefid (1995)

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Overview

User Rating:
7.6/10   1,575 votes
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Director:
Writers:
Abbas Kiarostami (writer)
Jafar Panahi (original idea)
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Contact:
View company contact information for The White Balloon on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
27 November 1995 (Spain) more
Genre:
Plot:
Several people try to take advantage of a little girl's innocence to hustle money her mom gave to her to buy a goldfish with. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
5 wins & 1 nomination more
User Comments:
The Adventures of Innocence more (25 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (complete, awaiting verification)
Aida Mohammadkhani ... Razieh
Mohsen Kafili ... Ali
Fereshteh Sadre Orafaiy ... Mother
Anna Borkowska ... Old Lady
Mohammad Shahani ... Soldier
Mohammed Bakhtiar ... Tailor
Aliasghar Smadi ... Balloon Seller
Hamidreza Tahery ... Reza
Asghar Barzegar ... Pet Shop Manager
Hasan Neamatolahi ... Snake Charmer
Bosnali Bahary ... Snake Charmer
Mohammadreza Baryar ... Client in Tailor's Shop
Shaker Hayely ... Tailor's Assistant
Homayoon Rokani ... Street Singer / Dancer
Mohammad Farakani ... Shop Keeper
Hosain Kazemy ... Shop Owner
Mohammad Zolfaghary ... Pet Shop Assistant
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Directed by
Jafar Panahi 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Abbas Kiarostami  writer
Jafar Panahi  original idea
Parviz Shahbazi  original idea

Produced by
Kurosh Mazkouri .... producer
Foad Nour .... co-executive producer
 
Cinematography by
Farzad Jadat 
 
Film Editing by
Jafar Panahi 
 
Production Design by
Jafar Panahi 
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Behrouz Hamed Saberi .... assistant director
Parviz Shahbazi .... assistant director
 
Sound Department
Said Ahmadi .... sound
Mehdi Dejbodi .... sound
Mojtaba Mortazavi .... sound
 
Special Effects by
Manocher Sabet-Ghdam .... special effects
 

Production CompaniesDistributors
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The White Balloon (USA)
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Runtime:
85 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The film unfolds in real time. more

FAQ

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9 out of 10 people found the following comment useful.
The Adventures of Innocence, 26 April 2000
Author: Ryan Tracy (woody-55) from Newark, DE

In his directorial debut, Jafar Panahi - a devoted pupil of Iranian film-god Abbas Kiarostami - is able to encapsulate the stubbornness and curiosity of a seven-year-old Tehranian girl so authentically (by use of newcomer Aida Mohammadkhani) that we forget that we are watching fiction unfold.

The White Balloon has a continuous feel that is obtained by allowing the story to unravel in real time. An unseen radio informs us that the Iranian New Year is almost upon the town; a tradition for this annual event is to either catch or buy a fish (fish represent life). Razieh, the little girl, is unsatisfied with the selection of fish in the family's pond. She complains that the family's fish are too "skinny." Eventually, Razieh's brother, Ali (Mohsen Kalifi's only role thus far), cons their mother into letting Razieh have a 500 note (Iranian money) to buy the fish that she wants. On her way to the market, Razieh loses the money two times. It is the second loss that is the most serious - the money falls into the cellar of a closed shop through a sidewalk drain. The remainder of the film is devoted to the introduction of various strangers offering either to help retrieve the note or pass the time with light-humored conversation.

Beautiful cinematography (winner of the Camera d'or at Cannes in 1994), memorable characters, and stunning direction backed by Kiarostami's expertly written script make for a great film that was reminiscent of my viewing of John Sayles' Secret of Roan Inish. Like Sayles' film, there is a magical, absorbing quality to The White Balloon that spellbinds the viewer regardless of age.

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