Watch The Bread and Alley

The Bread and Alley is a 1970 Iranian short film by Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami. It is a black and white film with no dialogue and is shot in a minimalist style. The film was groundbreaking at the time of its release as it marked the beginning of a new style of Iranian cinema that focused on the lives of ordinary people and their struggles.

The film tells the story of a young schoolboy who takes a shortcut through an alley on his way home from school. He spots a stray dog and decides to throw a piece of bread at the dog, which starts to follow him. The boy then runs away from the dog but the animal still follows him. The boy then comes across a wall, which he jumps over into a garden. The dog, being unable to jump the wall, is left behind.

The boy then starts to play around in the garden, enjoying the freedom that he has found. However, he is soon discovered by the owner of the garden, an old man who is upset at the intrusion. The boy tries to explain himself, but the language barrier between them prevents any real dialogue from happening.

The old man then leaves the garden, but the boy is soon confronted by a group of boys who are throwing stones at him. The boy is then forced to leave the garden and continues on his way home.

The film is a poignant commentary on the struggle of ordinary people in Iran to find their place in a changing society. The boy, who is representative of the youth of Iran at the time, is trying to find his own identity and place in the world. The film highlights the struggle that people in Iran had at the time in communicating with each other, due to language barriers and other cultural differences. The minimalist style of the film and lack of dialogue also serve to emphasize this theme.

The Bread and Alley has been highly influential in Iranian cinema and is often cited as one of the greatest Iranian films of all time. It was also important in establishing Kiarostami as one of Iran's greatest filmmakers. Kiarostami went on to make a number of highly acclaimed films, including Close-Up and Taste of Cherry, which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997.

Overall, The Bread and Alley is a beautifully crafted film that highlights the struggles of ordinary people in Iran to find their place in a rapidly changing society. The film's minimalist style and lack of dialogue serve to emphasize the communication barriers that existed at the time, while the story highlights the humanity that exists in all of us. The Bread and Alley is a must-see for fans of Iranian cinema and anyone interested in the struggles of ordinary people in the face of change.