In the aftermath of a 1990 earthquake that left 50,000 dead, Abbas Kiarostami returned to the village of Koker where his camera surveyed not only the devastation but the teeming life that continues in its wake. Blending fiction and reality into a playful, poignant road movie, AND LIFE GOES ON follows a film director (played by an actor standing in for Kiarostami) who, along with his son, makes the difficult trek to the region in hopes of finding out if the young star of his movie WHERE IS THE FRIEND’S HOUSE? is among the survivors. There he discovers a resilient community pressing on in the face of tragedy as he’s helped along on his journey by the generosity of those he meets. Finding beauty in the bleakest of circumstances, Kiarostami crafts a quietly majestic ode to the best of the human spirit.

“...A visually gripping travelogue in which the more the director is thwarted, the more his journey acquires metaphoric weight.” —Stephen Holden, New York Times 

“Straddling the divide between fiction and documentary with graceful ease, this is both a subtle study in the ethics of film-making, and a compassionate (but never mawkish or depressing) portrait of courage and determination in the face of overwhelming grief and hardship.” —Time Out London

The Belcourt Theatre does not provide advisories about subject matter or potential triggering content, as sensitivities vary from person to person.

Beyond the synopses, trailers and review links on our website, other sources of information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media and IMDb, as well as through general internet searches.

Visit the Official Website