This Iranian film about a young girl who wants to go to school in Afghanistan is an utter delight largely due to Nikbakht Noruz who plays the young girl, Baktay. Humour is added to the story by the fact that Baktay's desire to go to school is because she wants to learn jokes after hearing a funny story in her friend Abbas's reading book. Going to school isn't as easy as it might seem; she is meant to stay at home and look after the baby while her mother is away, she also needs a note book and something to write with.
For her the day is one big adventure, first she must get the ten rupees needed to get a book and find something at home she could write with. Once she has these she must get to the right school, as a girl she can't go to the same school as Abbas and between his school and the girls school she must pass a group of boys are playing "Talibans and Americans", they are taking the role of the Taliban and tell Baktay that she will be stoned; the viewer is left unsure just how far this game will go although Baktay doesn't seem too concerned for her safety, she just doesn't want to play. When she does finally get to the girls' school she is soon sent off again as the only thing she could find to write with was her mother's lipstick and the other girls in the class decided to use it; and no just on their lips. While she may not have been at school for long she seemed to have enjoyed her day despite certain incidents.
The character of Baktay was really enchanting, she was headstrong in her determination to get to school but also had a delightfully mischievous streak which caused me to laugh out loud more than once. I was surprised to learn that director Hana Makhmalbaf was only nineteen when she made this, if she can make a film this good at nineteen I'm sure she will make some great films in the future. Filmed on location in Afghanistan many shots are overshadowed by the alcove in the mountain which housed an ancient Buddha till they were destroyed by the Taliban, an act seen at the start of the film. Even though it was filmed in Afghanistan there is no real sign of the conflict; yes the boys play Talibans and Americans but that doesn't seem much more sinister than western children playing cowboys and Indians.
For her the day is one big adventure, first she must get the ten rupees needed to get a book and find something at home she could write with. Once she has these she must get to the right school, as a girl she can't go to the same school as Abbas and between his school and the girls school she must pass a group of boys are playing "Talibans and Americans", they are taking the role of the Taliban and tell Baktay that she will be stoned; the viewer is left unsure just how far this game will go although Baktay doesn't seem too concerned for her safety, she just doesn't want to play. When she does finally get to the girls' school she is soon sent off again as the only thing she could find to write with was her mother's lipstick and the other girls in the class decided to use it; and no just on their lips. While she may not have been at school for long she seemed to have enjoyed her day despite certain incidents.
The character of Baktay was really enchanting, she was headstrong in her determination to get to school but also had a delightfully mischievous streak which caused me to laugh out loud more than once. I was surprised to learn that director Hana Makhmalbaf was only nineteen when she made this, if she can make a film this good at nineteen I'm sure she will make some great films in the future. Filmed on location in Afghanistan many shots are overshadowed by the alcove in the mountain which housed an ancient Buddha till they were destroyed by the Taliban, an act seen at the start of the film. Even though it was filmed in Afghanistan there is no real sign of the conflict; yes the boys play Talibans and Americans but that doesn't seem much more sinister than western children playing cowboys and Indians.