The Runner

Director: Amir Naderi

1984 / 91min / DCP

Drawing on Naderi’s own memories of his hardscrabble youth, The Runner stars the marvelously spontaneous Madjid Niroumand as Amiro, an orphaned boy fending for himself on the streets of the port city of Abadan who, while facing a future that to all appearances is far from promising, maintains a determination and resilience that belies his years, teaching himself to read, palling around with other boys his age, and eking out a subsistence living through taking on odd jobs. One of the first Iranian films, following the revolution of 1979, to find international acclaim, and a film that remains with the viewer long after the houselights have gone up. “A work of astonishing power and simplicity, reminiscent of the finest Italian neo-realist films.” —Los Angeles Times

Distributor: Rialto

Restored from the original negative in 2K by Cineric.

Part of Travel Companions: Bahram Beyzaie & Amir Naderi