Abbas Kiarostami on Travel, Time, and Cinema
In an interview with Marcello Faletra, the late Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami (died at 76) discussed his philosophy of travel, time, and childhood. He described travel as a form of witnessing that matures the human being, contrasting adult goal-oriented journeys with children's pure pleasure of movement. Kiarostami rejected chronological time, citing his experience in an 18th-century building in Palermo where past and present converge. He admired Pasolini's use of non-professional actors and emphasized that filmmaking is inseparable from life, incorporating doubts and pauses. He stated he belongs to no school and narrates stories that move back and forth in time.
Key facts
- Abbas Kiarostami died at age 76.
- Interview conducted by Marcello Faletra.
- Kiarostami equated travel with witnessing and storytelling.
- He contrasted adult purposeful travel with children's aimless journeying.
- He described time as non-linear, citing a Palermo building from the 18th century.
- He admired Pier Paolo Pasolini's use of non-professional actors.
- He stated filmmaking is not a profession but inseparable from life.
- He said he belongs to no school and narrates stories freely.
Entities
Artists
- Abbas Kiarostami
- Marcello Faletra
- Pier Paolo Pasolini
Institutions
- Artribune
Locations
- Iran
- Palermo
- Italy