The White Balloon 1995 Review

The White Balloon is a subtitled movie from Iran.  WAIT. 

Don't quickly dismiss this film.

 It is superb experience featuring one of the best performances by a child (Aida Mohammadkhani)  that I have ever seen.  Aida plays a little girl who convinces her mother that the goldfish they have for the No Rooz (Persian New Year ) party about to begin in 90 minutes are too skinny and not worthy.    Mom finally gives the little girl some money to go get the Goldfish.. and off she goes.   

Then something truly tragic happens.   That's right.   The money slips out of the girl's hand and falls down the street grating.     She can't get it herself.  She can't tell her mom how irresponsible she is and she MUST  come back home with a better fish.    She has to convince someone to help her get her money and then get the goldfish  in under 90 minutes. 

You don't have to read every single subtitle to understand and enjoy the film. 

I know there are adults out there who just never seem to around to watching subtitled movies.

The White Balloon is a very simple film and it isn't shot with elaborate camera moves or angles, but everything in the film is beautifully choreographed like it's a ballet and everywhere you look in the frame of the film there are interesting things going on (in windows, down alleys,  inside shops,  everywhere.   Little bits of businesses are all around the little girl... we see a tailor who has a fight with his assistant,  we watch the look in a grandmother's eyes when she tries to offer the little girl some advice.    There's real tension in several situations so that the film never actually feels like it is lightweight.

The screenplay is by the world famous Iranian director  Abbas Kiarostami,  director Panahi worked with Kiarostmi as an assistant director on Through the Olive Trees.  

We know what the little girl feels and is going through.  It's utterly compelling and at times almost as exciting as a thriller.     I'm not kidding.. this film is that good.      The filmmaker has captured truth on film in an a little masterpiece of a film. 

Share it with your family.

THE WHITE BALLOON  1995  directed by Jafar Panah