Blackboards (Opening Film ) Q&A Session

Blackboards, which opened the festival, is the second film by the youngest winner of this year's Cannes Film Festival jury prize. As you probably know, her father is popular Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf. It is said that he was the source of this film's idea; teachers travelling in search of students with blackboards strapped to their backs. One question from the audience pointed out that the image of "wandering teachers" was also contained in Mohsen's Gabeeh. "If a teacher loses his place to teach yet still wants to go on working, then he must walk around with a blackboard. I found this a very interesting idea. This story makes it possible to include a wide range of expression of philosophies, social aspects, etc." Concerning her choice of the Iran-Iraqi conflict as the background , "I don't consider that I particulary held on to the region which this film portrays, because a war can break out anywhere.", said Makhmalbaf. In order to instill such universality into the film, she said; "Through portraying three different generations-- teachers, child smugglers, and old people trying to return home-- I thought I could convey the pain of all humanity to people around the world." There was even a moment in which the ambassador of Iran gave blessings to Makhmalbaf, seeing her swift and prompt response to the questions.