Overview
A young boy's quest to return a notebook leads to profound lessons about friendship and responsibility.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- gentle
- poetic
- contemplative
- quiet afternoon
- reflective movie night
What critics said
Critics widely regard Kiarostami's quietly poetic, child-centered village drama as a masterful blend of documentary observation, moral allegory, and understated humanism.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ahmed's search is experienced through his uncertainty about school expectations, family authority, and the unfamiliar village landscape.
The search for a classmate's home is driven by Ahmed's wish to prevent punishment and do what he believes is right.
Village paths, homes, school routines, and ordinary encounters are presented with patient, observational detail.
The misplaced school notebook sets Ahmed's journey in motion and embodies the consequences of carelessness and responsibility.
Films like Where Is The Friend's House?, and why
The White Balloon
shared child-centered perspective, rural setting, moral seriousness, and gentle humanism
Bicycle Thieves
shared neorealist attention to everyday life, children in difficult circumstances, and compassionate observation
The Spirit of the Beehive
shared contemplative pacing, poetic realism, and focus on a child's modest journey
The Apple
shared minimalist storytelling, village landscapes, and quietly profound ethical questions
Movie Details
- Director
- Abbas Kiarostami
- Release Date
- 1987-07-01
- Runtime
- 83 min
- Rating
- 7.9 / 10 (454)
Cast
- Babek Ahmadpour
- Ahmed Ahmadpour
- Kheda Barech Defai
- Iran Outari
- Ait Ansari
- Sadika Taohidi
- Biman Mouafi
- Ali Djamali
- Aziz Babai
- Nader Ghoulami
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Criterion Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Where Is The Friend's House? about?
- A schoolboy crosses an Iranian village to return a classmate's notebook, turning a simple errand into a luminous test of kindness and responsibility.
- What is Where Is The Friend's House? like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Where Is The Friend's House? as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Where Is The Friend's House? violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Where Is The Friend's House?.
- What did critics think of Where Is The Friend's House??
- Critics widely regard Kiarostami's quietly poetic, child-centered village drama as a masterful blend of documentary observation, moral allegory, and understated humanism.
- Which films are like Where Is The Friend's House??
- Films with a similar feel include The White Balloon, Bicycle Thieves, The Spirit of the Beehive, and The Apple.
- How long is Where Is The Friend's House??
- Where Is The Friend's House? runs 83 minutes.
- Where can I watch Where Is The Friend's House??
- In United States, Where Is The Friend's House? streams on Criterion Channel.
