En échange d’un dollar par jour, un garçon porte un adolescent boîteux à aller et revenir de l’école. Avec l’enfant sur le dos, il fait la course avec les ânes et chevaux dans la rue. Il le lave, le douche et le prépare prête pour le lendemain. Mais le garçon boiteux n’est pas content : son porteur ne se transforme pas en cheval comme il le voudrait…

Pays : Iran-France

Réalisatrice : Samira Makhmalbaf
Scénario : Mohsen Makhmalbaf
Directeur de la Photographie : Farzad Jodat
Monteur : Mohsen Makhmalbaf
Musique : Tolibkhon Shahidi

ACTEURS : Ziya Mirza Mohamad, Haron Ahad, Gol Gotai Karimi, Khojeh Nader



Lors du tournage du film en Afghanistan, en mai 2007, un attentat s’est produit occasionnant six blessés et un cheval.

Synopsis
In order to get the job, the boy has to participate in a contest with other poor children. Any one of the boys who can carry on his back a lame boy-who lost his legs in war-and take him to school and run like a horse will become the winner. A tough contest takes place and finally, the boy wins.
The boy in exchange for one dollar a day as wages has to carry the lame boy like a horse on his back and take him to and bring him back from school every day. When he carries the lame boy on his back he races with donkeys and horses in the street. The boy bathes the lame boy and washes him and puts him on the swing and instead. But the lame boy is not happy with the boy because he has not turned into a horse as the lame boy wished.

Director’s note:
I want to know how far a relationship between two people can go. On one hand, two people go all the way to the ultimate love and friendship and sacrifice for each other and on the other hand, one exploits the other like an animal. Meanwhile, through this film I attempt to discover the edge of human tolerance and how much can a human bear to meet his needs and become transformed. Let’s ask ourselves how many times has each of us become somebody else’s horse? Or used someone as our horse?


Directed by: Samira Makhmalbaf

Scriptwriter & Editor: Mohsen Makhmalbaf

Assistants Director:
Marziyeh Meshkini
Farid Pirayesh
Mehdi Zafari

Director of Photography: Farzad Jodat

CAST:
Ziya Mirza Mohamad
Haron Ahad
Gol Gotai Karimi
Khojeh Nader
Yasin Tavildar
Sound Recordist:
Farokh Fadaei
Sound Designer:
Hosein Mahdavi

Music: Tolibkhon Shahidi

Set Designer: Akbar Meshkini

Still photographer & Making of: Hana Makhmalbaf

Assistant Editor: Dilovar Sultonov

Production Manager: Zahra Kamalian

Executive Producer: Mehrdad Zonnour

Produced by:
Makhmalbaf Film House
Wild Bunch

Production: Mehrdad Zonnour (Makhmalbaf Film House) 5th Floor #32 16th Street North Felestin Avenue Tehran

Coproduction: Wild Bunch

GOLEM DISTRIBUCIÓN, S.L.

Sales: Wild Bunch
99, rue de la Verrerie
75004 París Tel 33 1 53 01 50 32 Fax 33 1 53 01 50 49 [email protected] / www.wildbunch.biz

Shooting place : Afganistan
© 2008


International Sales: Wild Bunch (France)


FESTIVALS:

1) Toronto International Film Festival, Canada 2008
2) San Sebastian International Film Festival, Spain 2008
3) Pusan International Film Festival, Korea 2008
4) Rome International Film Festival, Italy 2008
5) Ghent International Film Festival, Belgium 2008

International Awards:
1.The Special Jury Prize, From the 56th San Sebastian International Film Festival, Spain, 2008.

2. Georges Delerue Award, for best music, Ghent International Film Festival, Belgium 2008.

3. Special Mention award, Rome International Film Festival, Italy, 2008.



FESTIVALS / AWARDS

2008 | 56th San Sebastian Film festival | SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain | www.sansebastianfestival.
* PREMIO ESPECIAL DEL JURADO