This study aims to examine the narrative organization of Abbas Kiarostami’s early films, which have remained relatively unexplored as subjects of scholarly research, despite their significance. Although these films are interspersed with his artistic...
This study aims to examine the narrative organization of Abbas Kiarostami’s early films, which have remained relatively unexplored as subjects of scholarly research, despite their significance. Although these films are interspersed with his artistic themes, Kiarostami’s early films are largely unknown compared to his mid- and late-career works. However, the structures demonstrated in his early films are repeated with slight variations in his later works, making the study of his early films crucial for understanding the aesthetics and world view of his later films, which resonated with so many audiences. This study will analyze the narrative structure of three pre-revolutionary works that can be examined within the framework of the Quest Narrative. In doing so, it aims to highlight the artistic achievements of Kiarostami’s early films and present a unified vision of his dramaturgy.
If Kiarostami were to identify a single keyword that organizes the narrative across the 46 films he made during his lifetime, it would undoubtedly be “Quest.” A quest story consists of a series of small adventures that ultimately converge into a larger, overarching quest. However, the boy’s quest fails each time. In mythology and fairy tales, a failed quest often results in death, but in Kiarostami’s world, there is an unusual form of rebirth and resurrection. The boy never dies or disappears but is instead passed on to the next boy to continue the quest. The ultimate goal of the quest is for the boy to enter a strange world. This world, shaped by the boy’s dreams, represents an adult time-space where pleasure and spectacle are guaranteed. Yet, entering it comes with great pain and a steep price to pay. Kiarostami sends the boys on a ‘long journey into the night’ by placing them in a Quest narrative. He heightens the suspense by interspersing the larger quests with smaller ones that repeat and evolve. The boys’ quest is a rite of passage, appealing not only to their individual destinies but also to the universality of the human experience. Thus, Kiarostami’s dramaturgy is grounded in the quest, the voyage (to an unfamiliar place), and suspense.