A True Story

As the title states, this moving neorealist-style drama Iranian drama from distinguished filmmaker Abofazl Jalili is based on actual events. Utilizing a nonprofessional cast, it is the story of how the director's compassion for his newest young protagonist changed the course of a film. Jalili (playing himself and known only as "The Director) was busy looking for a young boy to play the lead in his latest film when he runs across the engaging 10-year-old Samad Khani in a bakery. He asks the boy to audition, but the boy evades him. The Director's search for him reveals the reasons why. Coming from a broken family, Samad often sleeps on the streets. The Director then learns that Samad's debilitating limp came from a serious burn and incompetent medical attention. Now the child faces the possibility of losing the leg. Samad could never play the lead in the Director's film, but something about the wide-eyed and courageous urchin moves the helmer to make the film about Samad's tragic life to provide him with money for proper medical care.