Original subtitles

Institute for the Intellectual Development...

of Children and Adolescents

Dedicated to Sorab Seperil

"Where is My Friend's House?"

What's happening? What's all this mess?

What happened?

You promised me you'd be quiet?

I can't be away for five minutes?

Everybody, stand up. Come on

Who has told you to sit down? Sit down

As soon as I am late one day the class is a mess

You show me you don't know how to behave yourselves

You can't be trusted

Let me see your homework

I told you that if I am going to be late

it's because something happened to me

but it seems like I'm talking to the walls

Quiet!

Sir, Al� Hemmati is not here.

Be quiet! Do not speak unless spoken to!

What's this, Nematzadeh?

How many times did I tell you to

write your homework in a book?

How many times, Nematzadeh?

How many times must I repeat it to you?

How many times did I tell you, Nematzadeh?

I see your fingers very well but I want you to say it once again out loud

Three times Louder

Three times!

Three times and you are still doing it

Well, now I am going to tear this up to show you a lesson

Look up, Nematzadeh

Nematzadeh, I told you to look

Nematzadeh!

How many times did I tell you to write in a book?

How many times?

Answer! Come on!

How many times did I tell you?

How many times?

Three times

Three times and after all that you still don't do it

Why didn't you do it?

Can I come in, sir? What time is this to arrive?

I came a long way - from Poshteh

You came from Poshteh today?

Yes, sir Go, sit down

Everyone who comes from Poshteh,

you have to consider that you must ... Shut it and sit down

leave 10 minutes earlier

and wake half an hour earlier, so you get enough sleep

and so that you don't arrive late Do you understand?

Did you understand? Yes, sir

So, Nematzadeh, you admit that I told you three times

and even so you have not listened to me

Are you listening to me? Answer Why? Tell me

Come on, look up! Why, Nematzadeh?

It's because I was at my cousin's house and I forgot my book there

Sir

What?

Yesterday I was at my cousin's house and I left my book there, sir

Sir, I have his book You have his book?

Yes Did you lie to me?

He is my cousin He is your cousin?

You are his cousin? Yes sir

And he was with you yesterday? Yes sir

Ok, let's see.

I told you many times

when you come home from school

first do your homework, then put your books

in your backpack and after you can do whatever you feel like

you can play or go visit someone

Quiet!

Or if you go anywhere

this way you won't forget them somewhere like Nematzadeh did

And remember, if I tell you to write in a book

it's because it shows discipline

Why have you gone under there? My back hurts, sir

What? My back hurts, sir

Well, it won't heal by going under the desk

There are very important reasons for writing in a book

First, it will make you learn discipline

And secondly, we can compare today's work

with the work of last month

This is Ahmadpoor's homework This is today's work

Can you see it? This is his work

And this, this is last month's

Do you understand now why I insist that you have a book

for your homework?

You too, Nematzadeh? Yes, sir

So this is the last time.

Next time you will be expelled from the school

Yes, sir

Did you hurt yourself?

Don't cry, don't cry, baby

Hi Hi

Hi Hello

Cover him well Right now, right now

Ahmad, bring me some diapers

Hurry up!

Ahmad, these are wet, hang them there in the room

Quick. Do you hear me?

Hurry up!

- Ahmad, come, let's go play - I have to do homework

- Do it later - Ahmad. Where are you, Ahmad?

I'm coming

The baby is freezing

take the bottle and bring it to your grandmother who'll give you some boiling water

to prepare the bottle for the baby

Where is the bottle? Beside the vase

I need boiling water Inside the house

Hello Hi

Are you coming to play? I have to do my homework

You don't? I only have three lines left

I wrote this, this and this and I only have three lines left

I have to do it all

Why did you go up wearing shoes?

Don't you see how I take them off?

You have to take your shoes off before going up

Add two sugar cubes, and hurry up

I am going to do my homework

Ahmad, can't you hear the child? Go give him the bottle

Rock him a little

Mother, I took Mohammad Reza's book by accident

and I have to return it to him

How are you? A little better

Take care Mother...

Mother... Mother... What is it?

I took Mohammad Reza's book by accident

and his homework

What?

I didn't realize I took Mohammad Reza's

homework book

Do your homework and then go play

I don't want to go play I want to return his book

First do your homework and then you can go play

Do you see how I am taking my shoes off before going up?

Where are you going? To play

He has to do his homework in his book

Ok, but be good, ok?

He has to do his homework in his book

Al� has already done his homework He returned from school

He has done his homework and he can go to play

and all you do is make trouble And you never want to do your homework

I wasn't talking about him, I was talking about Mohammad Reza.

I am sure he already did his homework

All the children did it except you Go, Al�.

- Finish your homework - It's his book

Mother, I took his book and I have to return it

Otherwise he will be punished

Do your homework

Go rock the baby

Al�, I told you not to waste time. Go

And you, do your homework!

But I don't want to go play I have to...

So do your homework

I took his book home with me and I have to ret...

- Come on, do your homework! - Return it.

Did you hear me?

Go, get me the bucket with the laundry

Mother, look at this This is what I was telling you

The two are identical, but this is his and this is mine

- Can't you see? - Yes I do. So?

- I have to give him his - So, give it him tomorrow

But tomorrow the teacher will expel him from class

this is why I have to return it now, before...

If he gets expelled, I am sure he deserves it

- But I took it by accident... - And you didn't realise?

No, because the two are identical

Doesn't matter you'll return it tomorrow

No, mom, I have to return it today

- And where does he live? - In Poshteh.

So far? In Poshteh? You cannot go there!

But many children come every day to school from there

Don't lie to me It's absolutely impossible

I swear. If you don't believe me go ask.

Don't swear, and do your homework. This is what you have to do.

Let me go return it!

I have already told you, you must do your homework

Also, you have to go buy bread

But I have to take it to him otherwise he will

be punished

Do your homework and be quiet!

- Mom, please let me go! - Obey!

- The teacher will be.... - I told you you must do

your homework!

Don't move from there and do the work.

Otherwise I will smack you so hard...!

- Did you hear me? Did you hear me? - Yes.

Come on, get up and go get bread

when your father will come he will know what to do with you

Is that our Ahmad? What is he going to do in Poshteh?

- Hi - Hello

- Do you know where Nematzadeh lives? - No, I don't know.

- He is my classmate - No, I don't know

- Is this Poshteh here? - Poshteh is behind that house

Boy, can you throw me that up here?

Come on boy, it's not going to get here

Madame, he doesn't have enough strength

Better you give it to me and I will pass it on

Boy, give it to me from this side, come on

- Where? - Here

Give it to me and I will pass it on

that's it, go on the step.

Good, boy! Well done.

- Do you know where Mohammad Reza lives? - Thank you son.

You're welcome.

Please, would you know where Nematzadeh lives?

I don't know. Did they tell you where he lives more or less?

- In Poshteh. - But, in which district?

Poshteh.

Here we have the district of Mazevar,

the district of Khanevar, the district of Kashevar,

the district of Assemar, the district of Khanevar, Mazevar...

They didn't tell you where it is?

In Poshteh.

Everything here is called Poshteh But whch districy, son?

- Hey, Morteza. Do you live here? - Yes

Do you know where is the house of Nematzadeh?

I think that it's down there

You don't know? It's because I have his book

and i have to give it back What can I do?

I know where his cousin lives

- Hemat�? - Yes.

Let's go, take me there. We'll go return it and we'll come back

I have to carry the milk.

Ok, at least tell me how to get there

His house is in Khanevar, in the steep street

theres is a staircase in front which ends in a blue door

And there is a bridge near the house

- What's the name of the district? - Khanevar.

Morteza, bring the milk

Sir, How do you get to Khanevar?

Through there

Where is the Nematzadeh's home?

I don't know

Do you know Hemmat�?

keep going straight. it's that path there to Khanevar.

are you there, Nematzadeh? Mohammad Reza!

Nematzadeh, Are you there? Are you there, Nematzadeh?

I brought your book Mohammad Reza.

Mohammad Reza! Mohammad Reza!

Please answer! Where are you?

I brought your book

Nematzadeh! Reza...

Nematzadeh, I brought your book

Hey, Whose are these trousers?

- What? What? - Those trousers

I don't know whose trousers are those

I am talking about the trousers that are hanging

What do you want me to say? I don't know, son.

They belong to Nematzadeh. And I have to return his book

No one is home It's shut.

I don't know anything, boy I don't know anything

- Hello - Hi

Whose are those brown trousers that are hanging there?

I don't know

No one is home. On that street there...

I don't know those people I don't know anything

What about those trousers hanging back there?

I don't know. I don't know.

- Those brown trousers - I told you, I don't know

- I'm sick. go away - Let me show them to you.

Can't you see that I cannot move?

at least come so that i can show it to you

I can't go. I am sick. Very sick.

- Come on, please, come. - I can't go, son.

- I am sick. I can't - Come on, be kind. Come, come.

Look, look

Come

I can't, I am sick

- My son, I can barely move - It's near. Just there

- Is Mohammad Reza there? - Who is he?

- Nematzadeh. - No.

- This is not his home? - No, he doesn't live here

- But those trousers are his - No, there are my grandson's

- Is this Khanevar? - Yes,it's Khanevar.

And he came yesterday evening to ask my husband to help him

find a job

- What is his profession? - Waiter

He was working three years but then his boss

sold the shop and told him that he had to go away

But since he is my husband's cousin he told him that he had to help him

he barely has money to eat

They have three children...

- Who are you looking for, kid? - Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh.

He's not here

They told me he lives around here where the blue door is

- This is Hemmat�'s home. - Wonderful. I would like to see him

- He went to Koker - He left?

Yes

- Who are you looking for? - Hemmat�.

- but, which Hemmat�? - Al� Hemmat�.

He's gone. He left 5 minutes ago He went to Koker.

I just came from Koker.

well, then you'd have seen him He went with his father to Koker.

Al� Hemmat�! Al� Hemmati! Al� Hemmati!

Ahmad! Where are you going? Come here, kid!

- Hello - Where have you been?

To buy bread

I asked you a question and I expect you to answer

Where have you been?

What did you go to Poshteh for?

To return the book to Mohammad Reza.

He is my classmate

- Did you give it to him? - No, I didn't see him

- Go get my cigarettes - I have to go to the bakery

First, go get my cigarettes

But if I go there late they will have no more bread

I do not want to repeat it again

- Here, I have cigarettes - No, I also have some

My point was not about the cigarettes

I want the kid to be educated for in his tomorrow

to be a good man

When I was little my dad would give me...

he'd give me a cent a week

and he would beat me every forthnight

And sometimes he would forget to give me the money on purpose

but he would never forget to give me the smack

so that he would make of me a strong man

And you saw how my grandson came here

and I had to repeat my words to him three times

and he did not pay attention

And we want the kid to be educated properly

because if he is lazy he will not be useful in society

let's suppose that he listened to you. wold you still hit him?

because that wouldn't be ...

of course I'd hit him. I've told you already

even if he forgot the allowance, what he would never forget...

would be giving the eventual beating

Of that, you can be sure. This is what teaches discipline.

In society the children must maintain

the sense of discipline

They must obey their parents

They must respect all the traditions.

Yes, but what if the child does nothing wrong?

What would you do then? What?

Find a good excuse

to beat him every forthnight so that he won't forget

I used to work with an Iranian engineer

We'd build roads

after a while two foreign engineers arrived

They looked at the road and they said that it was 15

centimeters too low

The Iranian engineer said that the problem could be fixed

with sand and gravel. and that this was the solution

He said we had to fix those 15 centimeters

he said that it would make it look good

because otherwise the measurements wouldn't be the ones demanded in the contract

but when he was leaving i approached the engineer and asked:

Tell me, why is my salary 6,000 tomans

and they receive 12,000?

He answered: if I told them once

and they did it, but he ordered me to do it twice

and that is why I receive 6,000 tomans

That is the reason

Yes, that's the reason why they gave me the order

Two times

And consequently I received 6,000 tomans and they receive 12,000

Do you understand?

For such things, my friend we must be educated

in a way so that they can tell us something only once

In the good old days, when our parents would educate us

they expected total obedience

That is for sure

- Go,look for the doors. - Are these yours? These?

Leave it, I'll go.

- Here's your tea - Very good.

The doors were here this morning

We fixed the contract for 3,000 tomans

and I have to get 500 from the engineer

but it did not come out well, so...

I didn't cancel it. I kept it.

But I have to pay the blacksmith, the carpenter

the bricklayer, the workers...

Then, I have to pay Mr. Jamali, and then I would not have nothing left

In that case, I myself will take care of Mr. Jamali.

What can we do?

I don't know, I only asked Mr. Agha Khan...

that it makes the quality of doors that the children

won't ever get cold

Certainly, you have nothing to worry about

I will do them right now.

Do you also need any doors?

- No, Thanks - Why not?

- I have some already. - Your doors are falling apart

- But I am happy with them - You need new doors

- No, I am happy - But you'll be very cold

- I don't mind. I like being cold - I would make you iron doors

I have doors

The ones I'll make you, they'll last your whole life

I won't live much longer

Come on, grandfather! You still have many years to live

Stop lecturing! I don't need them!

Listen to me!

I am known in the entire region as a good and meticulous worker

since many years. And those who I made are the ones lasting

- I don't doubt it. But I don't need them - How long have you had yours?

Probably less... I told you, no!

I guarantee it! Listen to me!

And when you'll see my work, you won't regret it

go, take care of your business

The ones I have are good enough I told you already

Those old doors they will be a memory for you.

- Stop with the memories! - They will display them in a museum

What good are they for a museum?

In Tehran

Because your name will be remembered forever

Everyone will say: those doors belonged to a great man

You must think about that

After I die, what do I need them for?

- Do you only think about death? - With my age...

- How stubburn! - So, what do we do?

Nothing, if he pays more I will bring the doors

- The engineer won't pay - That's not my problem

Whether he pays or not, this is the price.

- He won't pay! - You are the one who made the terms of contract!

I didn't find the cigarettes

- Did you look for them or did your mother? - My mother

Why didn't you look for them? I asked you!

- You go look for them - I have to go to the bakery

- Hey, give me a piece of paper - It's not mine. It's Mohammad Reza's.

Doesn't matter. I only need one leaf

But it's Mohammad Reza's. And I have to return it

- Come on, boy. Give me a leaf - But it's not mine

- I only need one - The teacher will get mad at him

- Come on! It's just one sheet - He'll get mad

Come on, kid, give it to me Don't be hard headed

Listen to the elder ones Give me the book!

He will be furious

He won't be I will only take a leaf.

The teacher nor will find out. Look. Do you see?

I am only going to take one page.

There. There you go.

The teacher won't find out Here, take your book

No, no, wait. I need it to hold the sheet while I write

It's not mine

What should I write, Mr. Gholami?

- Write - I am writing...

- The sum of - The sum of

- The sum of 4,000 tomans - The sum of 4,000 tomans

- for - for

- Two doors for Nader Gholami. - For Nader Gholami.

- I hereby certify - I hereby certify

- Agha Khan Nematzadeh. - I certify. Here you go

Mr Nematzadeh. Are you Mr. Nematzadeh?

You've seen it. Nothing happened

Are you Mr. Nematzadeh?

- That money does not mean anything. - Well, I'll give it to you.

Are you Mr. Nematzadeh?

What matters is that we came to an agreement.

Here you go. Yes, what matters is the agreement

- Very good - Are you Mr. Nematzadeh?

- Thanks to Jamali. - Yes, certainly

- If it weren't for Mr.Jamali...

Are you Mr. Nematzadeh? - I would have not accepted

- Are you Mr. Nematzadeh? - Think about what we have...

spoken about

Are you Mr. Nematzadeh?

The doors are good and you will enjoy them

In two years, at these heights they will be as they are now

I only want to make you some good doors

This is what you have to understand. Here you go, boy...

Are you Mr. Nematzadeh? Is Mohammad Reza your son?

what can a little bit more money do?

if I cant even feed this animal

Is Mohammad Reza your son?

Come here. Don't move, beast! Let's go

Come on! Hurry up! Bring the other door!

Bring it...

When you finish the work, I'll go to Poorcom's house...

to see if he has finished making the doors.

- And you'll bring them together? - Very good

- What do you want? What do you want? - Is this the home of Nematzadeh?

- Who are you looking for? - Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh.

- I don't know him - He is my classmate

I am Nematzadeh, but I don't know any Mohammad Reza

We have plenty of Nematzadehs here. What is it that you're after?

- I want to return his book - I don't know him

Do you know if the father owns a truck?

- I don't know - Does he have sheeps?

I don'know. Maybe yes

Once I brought milk to the vice-manager

- Do you know the public baths? - No.

- The blacksmith's house? - No, I am from Koker.

Look for the blacksmith's factory. It's very close to here

Beneath his house there is a shed full of sheep

- Ask there. Bye! - Where is it?

- There - Near his home

Near his house there is a dry tree.

Sir! Sir! Sir! Sir! Sir! - Hello. What is it, son? - Is this the home of Nematzadeh?

- Where did they tell you it is? - Here. Near the tree.

That tree

Here we have a lot of trees, boy

Near the dead tree

We also have plenty of dead trees

You see, Nematzadeh doesn't live here But I know him, yes

I remember him very well

- So you know him? - Of course I know him

His son was here but he went home

Are you his son's classmate?

- Yes. He was here? - Yes.

- Tell me where he lives! - Do you know where the public baths are?

No. I am not from here. I am from Koker.

- You are from Koker? - Yes.

So, then wait, I will take you there

Buy some apples.

I don't have teeth to eat apples

- Then buy them for your son. - He is not my son

Alright, for your grandson

I don't have children, and therefore no grandchildren

They are really good apples. Buy some.

I am sure they are but I have no teeth

Why do you want to see him? You'll see him tomorrow at school

I have to return his book to him today

But he is not here anymore

If you came 5 minutes earlier

I have been looking for him everywhere

But no one knows him

You should have come to me straight away

I know everyone. Whose son are you?

- Abdu'llah's. - Which one of them?

- Abdu'llah Ahmadpoor. - Abdu'llah Ahmadpoor from Koker?

Yes.

I know him too. I have done his doors.

I also made the cradle of your father.

I have done the door of your friend's house

And I also have done his windows 40 years ago

And they didn't change one bit

But now they are changing them all, one by one

for iron doors.

But nobody asks what's wrong with those doors

and if that would be the case, I assure, if they had been bad

nobody would have bought them

- How are you, Mashdi? - Well, thanks

I am very happy

He is also changing his to an iron door

he's heard that iron doors last a lifetime

but I don't know who long is a life. How old are you?

- Eight. - Eight years old.

My nephew also was exactly eight years

when his father took him to the city

Yes, sir.

Do you see those doors and windows? My brother and I made them

When my brother was still here

Do you see how nice they are? That was a long time ago

45 years ago

But later he had a wife and children

and he left to the city

I don't know what's in the city I assure you I don't

but everyone is going there

Have you ever been to the city?

- Twice - I don't like the city at all

I assure you. Nothing at all. One's own place is another thing

- What did you say your name was? - Ahmad.

You see, young Ahmad, it saddens me so much...

when I see them leaving these windows and these doors

which I built with so much effort to go to the city

I am talking about these windows

And I'd really like to know where they take them

The last few times I was in the city

I really wanted to find out what they have there

But sadly I did not manage to find out

And I've been doing it much less now

It's like I've lost my nephews

On the other hand, I am not interested in doing any more

because I don't have the sight or the strengh that I used to

My son, it's terrible to be old

Ahmad, please, wait a second.

I want to wash my face and after we'll continure

- Come wash your face - I am in a hurry

We've almost arrived. Your friend's home is right here

What good water! Spring water!

Here, take this flower and put it in the book

Don't lose it. You must watch over it

Put it in the book

Sir, can you hurry up a little bit please

It's getting really late

Alright! Right now. I'm here Let's go. Come on, let's go

That's your friend's home Slowly! Take care

You can go through there It's the first door to the left

- Do you want to give him the book? - Yes

Then I will sit here to rest a little bit

You go give him the book. Come, hurry.

Look, there it is. I'll be here

Return quickly so we can leave together

Did you give him the book? You didn't even knock at the door!

Let's go through here, so I can show you the doors and the windows that...

I made

- No, it's already so late - Come, it's on our way

- No, I'll be late - It's alright. Let's go through here

I want to show you the doors and windows that I made

But it's very late I have to go to the bakery

It's not the hour to buy bread

- So you come from Koker... - Yes

Do you have an older brother?

Why is he not in charge of getting the bread?

They've called him out

And now, it's better if I go quickly otherwise my father will scold me

I don't want him to get angry with me

What if I am faster and I take you home?

- I'd like it, but I can't. - Why not?

- You want to do it? - Sure

So let's go

- What are you doing standing there? - You are very slow

When I was your age I used to jump around from place to place

Is this better? Are you alright with this?

- A little faster - faster?

- Yes - I'll try

- Better? - Yes

Let's go

Through here

- Do you have a cold? - No.

- Are you cold? - No.

- Would you like to put on my cover? - No, my mom will scold me

- You can return it to me tomorrow - Go a little slower

I am out of breath. If I don't talk, I can go faster!

- Alright. Then don't speak - Alright. I won't speak anymore.

Sir, you are tired and I am going to return late

You go ahead. I can't keep up

yes

- What's the matter, Ahmad? - The dog is barking

- Are you afraid? - It's going to bite me

This is why I am telling you we have to walk together.

But you are very slow and I am in a hurry

Alright,alright, I know I am too old

to keep up with your pace

- We've arrived - Where are we?

This is my house, and Koker is on the other side

You go ahead on your own, I'll watch you go on boy, I'll watch you

- Come, eat - I don't want any

- Why not? You're not hungry? - No.

What is it? You don't like what you get?

I don't want it

Come, eat. Do you hear me?

Do you hear me?

- Come, son. - I don't want to.

- Why not? - I don't want

- Then go to bed - No, I need to do the homework

- What? - I have to do homework

It's late and you are tired. You really don't want to eat?

Alright, if you are not hungry don't eat

If you want to do homework go to the other room

We want to sleep

Have your dinner, my son.

and when you finish, turn the lights off and go to bed

- Stand up - Sit down

- How are you? - Well, sir

- Can I come in, sir? - yes.

- Sir, Ahmadpoor is not here. - Ahmadpoor is not here?

Sit down. Good.

I told you yesterday that you must not speak unless you're asked

Is it clear? Did you understand?

- Yes, sir - Let's see the homework

Ghasem Hojat, let's see...

Why did you write pedestrians with two S's?

The word pedestrian is written only with one S. Is that clear?

That's good

What's this, kid? Why is it so dirty?

My hands were sweating, that's why I got it dirty

But you haven't filled all the page

I went to the farm and I saw they had cut off the water, so...

- What did you have to do there? - Work.

- With whom? - With my father

You see, children, your first obligation is education.

First you must dedicate yourselves to your studies

And later you can help your father at the farm

and your mother at home.

As you can see, this pupil did not do his homework...

because he had to work at the farm

And I am going to let it go because it's the first time.

And I will also let the second one pass but the third time

there will be no excuse that is acceptable

Next time, first do your homework

And after, help you father. Do you understand?

Good. Parvaneh, And your homework? Why didn't you write anything?

- I didn't do it - What?

- I didn't do it. - And why didn't you do it?

- Answer - My back hurts

- What? - My back

- Louder - My back hurts

Why does your back hurt? Are you better now?

Can I come in? Why are you late?

You didn't come from Poshteh? Yes, sir

Do you come from Poshteh? No, sir

Take your seat

Did he look at your homework? No

I did it for you

Sir... Ahmadpoor

Ahmadpoor... what's going on? Be quiet!

Sir... Ahmadpoor

This is Nematzadeh's Sorry

Good

Sir... Nematzadeh

Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh

Very good. Well done, boy