The White Balloon (1995)

Several people try to help a little girl to find the money her mom gave her to buy a goldfish with.

Director:

Jafar Panahi

Writers:

Abbas Kiarostami, Jafar Panahi (original idea)

Stars:

Aida Mohammadkhani, Mohsen Kafili, Fereshteh Sadre Orafaiy

5 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Razieh wants a fat goldfish for the Iranian New Years celebration instead of the skinny ones in her family's pond at home, because the fat fish looks like it's dancing when it swims. After many attempts she and her brother convince their mother to give them her last bit of money. Between their home and the fish store, Razieh loses the money.. She finds it, but it is temptingly just out of her reach.

---

Plot Keywords:

money | little girl | shopkeeper | snake charmer | new year's day | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Family

---

Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

sourehcinema

Country:

Iran

Language:

Persian

Release Date:

1995 (Iran)

Also Known As:

The White Balloon

Filming Locations:

Kashan, Iran

Box Office

Budget:

$150,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$474,047

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ferdos Films, I.R.I.B. Channel 2

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jafar Panahi found lead actress Aida Mohammadkhani at the first school that he visited and immediately cast her as Razieh, but auditioned 2,600 young boys for the role of Razieh's brother Ali before settling on Mohsen Kalifi. He cast non-professionals in most of the supporting roles, including a real fish seller he found in the Rasht market and a college student to portray the young soldier.

---

Quotes

Shop Owner: Why did you make me come if you could do it yourselves?

---

Connections

Referenced in Pardé (2013)

User Reviews

Charming in a small way

The White Balloon has much in common with another Iranian movie about children, "Children of Heaven". In both, the children find themselves in a bind, and use their ingenuity to work out a solution of sorts. Overall, The White Balloon is somewhat slower, perhaps requires more patience on the viewer's part, but it may be more realistic about current-day Tehran and its residents. Children of Heaven has a bit more action and suspense, and might be a better choice for the typical Western moviegoer.

Both movies, however, feature excellent acting by the children, some heartbreaking scenes, some minor triumphs, and an intriguing glimpse of life in a truly foreign culture. Both might be called "artless" in the best sense of the word.

7/10 (vs. 8/10 for Children of Heaven)