July 7, 1998

The Traveller From The South (1998) **

A moving human drama from Iran about a young country boy who comes to Teheran for a visit. On the train he meets an old lady, who suddenly becomes very ill. The plot then enfolds in such a way that we aren't exactly sure if the boy is trying to help the old lady, or is swindling her out of her money. The suspense is skilfully maintained as he sells her jewelry by pretending to be her grandson, and doesn't even blink when a suspicious merchant wants to call the cops.