Jafar Panahi's The White Balloon is the kind of film that I treasure and cherish. It isn't so much about characters as it is about people. Panahi quietly invites us into the world of children to experience a simple story of warmth and compassion. It is the eve of the Iranian New Year. Little Razieh wants to buy a goldfish from a local store to be used during the festivities. Her mother sternly reminds her that they have a pool of goldfish at their house. But, no, Razieh wants a big one from the store that looks like it dances when it swims. After much begging and pleading, her mother gives her enough money to buy one of the shop's prized goldfish. But along the way she loses the money not once, but twice. First she is cheated out of the money by a conniving snake charmer. But his partner returns the money when he realizes what happened. Then she accidentally drops the money into the entrance grate at a nearby store. The film then watches as she enlists the aid of her brother and passersby to help retrieve the money. There's an old lady who tries to help, then a soldier who can't afford to return home for the New Year. And then there's a young Afghan street balloon seller who devises the ingenious method by which the money is rescued. The White Balloon moves at a naturalistic, leisurely pace. It invokes memories of being a child and having to patiently wait and daydream while adults argue on about boring adult things. In this sense, The White Balloon replicates time from the point of view of impatient yet stubborn children. And therein lies the beauty. Therein lies the magic.
9/10
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