DJOMEH

Iran - France 1999 / 35 mm / Color / 94 min.

Djomeh is a young Afghan who works on a small dairy farm in the remote Iranian countryside. Every morning, Djomeh accompanies farm owner Mr. Mahmoud to nearby small villages to collect milk for resale. Unlike his older guardian and co-worker Habib, also an Afghani refugee, Djomeh's naive spirit cannot be stifled because of his status as a foreigner. He smiles and speaks openly despite the villagers' coolness and suspicion. The children throw stones and the villagers make disparaging remarks, but Djomeh retains his good humour. Habib looks after Djomeh like a brother, but because of Habib's conservatism, Djomeh doesn't feel comfortable turning to him for advice. Instead, when he finds himself attracted to the daughter of a local shopkeeper, Djomeh turns to Mr. Mahmoud. Unfortunately, strict Iranian customs forbid an open courtship. A member of his family must talk to the girl on his behalf. But Djomeh has no family; will Mr. Mahmoud act for him? This first feature from a former assistant to Abbas Kiarostami is a sweet-natured picture that touches on racism and the difficulties faced by foreigners living in Iran... subtly handled by Yektapanah, whose observational style packs a great deal of information into scenes which, on the surface, appear simple. -- David Stratton (Variety)

Script:  Hassan Yektapanah.    Phot.:  Ali Loghmani.    Ed.:  Hassan Yektapanah.    Cast:  Jalil Nazari, Mahmoud Behraznia, Mahbobeh Khalili, Rashid Akbari, Valiollah Beta, Ehsan Dariabari, Issa Biglar.    Prod.:  Behnegar, N� 6, Fourth Street, Saadat Abad 19986, T�h�ran (Iran), t�l.: (21) 208 45 07, fax: (21) 206 11 37 / Lumen Films, 24, rue Lamartine, 75009 Paris (France), t�l.: (33-01) 49 70 03 70, fax: (33-01) 49 70 03 71.    Sales:  Celluloid Dreams, 27, rue Lamartine, 75008 Paris (France), t�l.: (33-01) 49 70 03 70, fax: (33-01) 49 70 03 71.

Hassan Yektapanah Born in Iran in 1963, Hassan Yektapaneh was assistant director on THE TASTE OF CHERRY and THE WIND WILL CARRY US by Abbas Kiarostami, THE MIRROR by Jafar Panahi and THE LITTLE MAN d'Ebrahim Forouzesh, as well as many other films by directors such as Ali Hatami and Tahmineh Milani. DJOMEH marks his own directorial debut.

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