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Baran
Director:
Majid Majidi
Cast: Zohra Bahrami, Hossein Abedini, Mohammed Amir Naji, Abbas Rahimi, Hossein Mahjoob, Gholam Ali
Bakshi.
 The story of a young Iranian and his co-worker, an Afghan refugee, is narrated with sensitivity and subtle humour by Iranian film-maker Majid Majidi. 'Baran' (Rain) has a simple narrative style, an honest, straight-from-the-heart narration. But the images manage to leave to powerful impact, an undercurrent of melancholy pervading the film. The plight of the Afghan refugees, who have to work illegally in Iran, evading the hawk eyes of the government inspectors, is poignant and touching.
Lateef, young and hot-blooded, is an Iranian youth providing tea and food to the workers at a construction site. When Najaf, an Afghan worker, has an accident at the site, his son Rahmat replaces him at work.
Rahmat, not quite able to do the hard labour, Memar, the kind-hearted boss, shifts him to the job of providing tea and food to the workers to the chagrin of Lateef, who is now assigned the tougher job.
A furious Lateef, in many small ways, tries to create hurdles in Rahmat's way. But when Lateef discovers the real identity of Rahmat, he has a change of heart. He now turns Rahmat's
protector. Following an inspection by the governent inspectors, Rahmat is forced to leave.
Lateef's sole aim in life now is to help out Najaf and Rahmat in their penury. He gives Najaf his whole life's savings. But with Najaf planning to use the money to return to Afghanistan, Lateef, selfless in his love, is left with no savings and an uncertain future.
Acclaimed by critics, 'Baran' has won the grand prize of the Americas at the Montreal festival. And it is the fourth of Majidi's films to have won the best film award at the Fajr Film Festival. A Persian movie sub-titled in English, 'Baran' is a must-watch.
Malini Mannath
Published on 26th Nov, 2003
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