Saman

This documentary-style film follows the lives of children in a village near Tehran who are working to build a dam. The story focuses on their struggles and their commitment to the project, highlighting the challenges they face in their daily lives and their collective effort towards a common goal. It offers a poignant look at childhood resilience and the importance of community.

Saman is a lesser-known work by Abbas Kiarostami, often overshadowed by his more internationally acclaimed films. It is appreciated for its realistic portrayal of rural life and its focus on the lives of children, characteristic of Kiarostami's early social-realist period. While not widely reviewed by mainstream critics, it is considered by cinephiles to be an important piece in understanding the director's developing style and his engagement with social issues.

• Praised for its authentic depiction of village life and child labor.

• Appreciated for Kiarostami's signature empathetic gaze towards his subjects.

• Seen as a significant early work exploring social themes in Iran.

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Abbas Kiarostami initially worked as a film teacher and a director of educational films for the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults in Iran, which heavily influenced his approach to films like 'Saman'.