Event Information

HOMEWORK + educational shorts

Saturday, Oct 19, 2019 3:15 PM
THE TRAVELER: Dir. Abbas Kiarostami | Iran | 1989 | 86 min. | NR | DCP

In Persian/Farsi with English subtitles
So Can I (1975, 4min) | Two Solutions for One Problem (1975, 4min)
Event Pricing
General Admission Adult Matinee - $9.50
General Admission Senior - $11.50
General Admission Student - $9.50
General Admission Military - $9.50
General Admission Child - $11.50
General Admission Group Sale - $8.50

 
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Frustrated parent Abbas Kiarostami interviews young Iranian boys about problems encountered when completing difficult homework requiring intensive collaboration with their parents. Preceded by two early educational shorts (So Can I and Two Solutions for One Problem).

HOMEWORK:
Kiarostami’s documentary feature about education was inspired by the director’s own difficulties assisting his son with homework that required a great deal of parental participation. The filmmaker interviews a succession of first and second grade students about what they encounter at home when attempting to complete assignments with their parents. He discovers that many parents are illiterate and punish their children in retaliation for their own insecurities related to their lack of education.


So Can I:
The first of Kiarostami’s films made expressly for children was a lively experiment combining live action and animation, made in collaboration with animator Nafiseh Riahi. As two schoolboys (the children of Riahi and Kiarostami) watch animated views of animals’ actions—kangaroos jumping, fish swimming, etc.—one boy says, “I can, too,” and imitates the actions.


Two Solutions for One Problem:
A simple moral tale prefiguring WHERE IS THE FRIEND’S HOUSE? Two young schoolboys, Dara and Nader, are friends—until Dara returns Nader’s notebook torn, creating a tense situation that must be settled. The first solution for resolving the problem, retaliation, sets off an escalating battle that leads to physical injury. In the more sensible second solution, Dara realizes his offensive action and repairs the notebook, restoring peace and their friendship.


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