THE MOVING PICTURE BOY ARCHIVE

DAVANDEH...

Title: ...دونده [Ellipsis not shown on posters but present in opening credits]
Roman transliteration of title: Davandeh...
English translation of title: The Runner...
Title in Anglophone World: The Runner [i.e. without the ellipsis]
Year of release: 1984
Director: Amir Naderi
Principal boy actor: Madjid Niroumand plays Amiro
Country of Production: Iran
Genre: Drama
Length: 1 hour 31 min
Language: Persian (Farsi)
Availability: Available on Criterion Collection blu-ray, with English subtitles

Synopsis
In this, the first true masterpiece of post-revolutionary Iranian cinema, based very much on director Amir Naderi's own childhood, we follow young orphan boy Amiro (an exceptional performance from 11 year old Madjid Niroumand), a street boy who makes money by collecting empty bottles, selling iced water and shining shoes.

Such a plot outline naturally invites comparison with such films as Vittoria De Sica’s Shoeshine and Bicycle Thieves, Luis Buñuel’s Los Olvidados, Héctor Babenco’s Pixote, and Truffaut's Les quatre cents coups; though in The Runner the protagonist is cheerful and resourceful, and the conclusion of the film more optimistic. One has a definite sense that Amiro will do well in his life, despite the inauspicious start. Amiro has a vast amount of energy, symbolised by his penchant for running, and his desire to see how far he can go. There is no malice in young Amiro's heart. When a customer fails to pay him for a drink of iced water, he runs after him to get payment. When he finally catches him and receives his money, he evinces no anger - he simply smiles sweetly, and walks away. Overall, one of the loveliest films about childhood ever produced.

Director Amir Naderi has said that he regards The Runner as the third in a trilogy of his films, preceded by Saz Dahani / Harmonica (1974) and Entezar / Waiting (1974) (below are publicity materials for each of the three films). All three films are about boyhood and feature a boy in the central role.

The trailer for The Runner can be viewed on Youtube here.

An official pressbook for the film can be read here (PDF opens in a new tab).

Below: Anglophone poster

Naderi with Madjid

Screenshots