The White Balloon (1995)
(Badkonake sefid, Jafar Panahi, Iran 1995, 85 min., 35mm, Persian w/English subtitles)
Prior to being handed a twenty-year ban on filmmaking in 2011 (he has made a number of films under this restriction so far), Jafar Panahi was one of Iran’s most celebrated directors. His soulful, contemplative, and formally daring films were primarily focused on the family unit and its place within the culture. The White Balloon, his debut film, follows a brother and sister in their adventures to procure a new goldfish for their New Year’s celebration. Panahi traveled throughout Iran in an effort to include all of the country’s ethnicities in the cast of his film. Though overlooked on its release, the film went on to win the Caméra d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and launched the career of one of the most respected filmmakers in the world.