Rent Blackboards (2000)

Moving and Compelling. - Blackboards review by CP Customer

Blackboards tells a chillingly realistic story of the lives of two wandering teachers who are called blackboards after their only worldly possesions which they carry with twine on their backs. It looks at the seemingly hopeless daily brutality faced by both the "blackboards" and the people they encouner from 8 year old artefact smugglers to ageing Nomad tribes people.

The film looks at how their nobal aspirations of educating people who have nothing are faced with apthy by people struggling to stay alive.

One of the most moving scene's is when a nomad asks if an elderly man with severe urine retention can use the blackboard to get carried on, in exchange for four walnuts. An offer which the starving teacher has no choice but to accept.

But what makes the film truely acceptional is the treatment of the cast, rarely can a crew portray such understanding and humanity.

A timely film which must be seen.

Watch this movie - Blackboards review by DF

This is an extraordinary movie and although made in 2000 it is still very much relevant; reminding us of the hopelessness and human tragedy of war. the movie follows two itinerant teachers across the beautiful but seemingly inhospitable mountains somewhere on the borders between Iran and Iraq. The teachers’ mission, whilst carrying blackboards on their backs, seems to be one of tragic/comic pathos. They hope to find pupils in villages and ask only pittances or some food for their efforts. The teachers eventually join two separate groups crossing the mountains; one, a group of children employed as contraband ‘mules’ and the other, a band of elderly men trying to return to their homelands. To me, the actual physical making of this movie seems remarkable and no less remarkable is the complete genuine commitment of the cast. The sole female part in the movie, Halaleh, is played movingly by Behnay Jafari (3 Faces). This movie is a powerful reminder of the absolute human tragedy of war and the unbearable hardships caused to ordinary people. There are, nevertheless, flickers of love and hope in the movie; an old sick man is selflessly helped by his companions, a young boy learns to spell his own name and Haleleh frantically at all costs protects her child. She says; “My heart is like a train. At every station, someone gets on or off. But there is someone who never gets off. My son.”

Grim but gripping - Blackboards review by CP Customer

A compelling film, which leaves you filled with sadness for the unhappiness of the lives portrayed. It is pretty unrequited gloom, and there are many puzzling cultural non-sequiturs. Visually it is memorable.