Abbas Kiarostami, Case No. 1, Case No. 2 (1979), Iran
Made in the spring of 1979, not long after the shah’s overthrow, this extraordinary film serves as a Rorschach blot for people in a revolutionary mind-set. Kiarostami stages two versions of a classroom discipline situation—in one, a student tells on a troublemaker; in the other, seven students refuse to rat—and then has several adult authorities comment on the outcomes. The fascinating responses evoke conflicts between order and resistance.
About Abbas Kiarostami
Abbas Kiarostami, born in Tehran in 1940, emerged as one of Iran's most celebrated filmmakers. Initially involved in various artistic pursuits, including illustration and graphic design, he began his filmmaking career in 1969 with the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults. Kiarostami's early works, such as "Where Is the Friend’s House?" (1987) and "Close-up" (1990), garnered international acclaim, exploring the intersections of documentary and fiction. His "Koker Trilogy" and subsequent films like "Taste of Cherry" (1997) earned him widespread recognition, with the latter winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes. In the new century, Kiarostami diversified his artistic endeavors, embracing digital filmmaking and creating works like "Certified Copy" (2010) and "Like Someone in Love" (2012). Despite facing controversy in Iran, his global influence continued until his death in July 2016. His final work, "24 Frames," was posthumously completed and premiered at Cannes in May 2017.
The screening of Abbas Kiarostami, Case No. 1, Case No. 2 (1979) at the Cinema For All Pavilion is supported by MK2 Films.