> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://edn.as/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # MIFF 2026: The Friend’s House is Here - URL: https://edn.as/miff-2026-the-friends-house-is-here/ - Published: 2026-08-26T12:55:50.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-26T12:58:12.000Z - Description: The story of two artists in Iran that just wants to express themselves through their art but unable to do so properly due to their acts being illegal. It has all the good stuff, the fight against oppression, the spirit of humanity, and the unquenchable thirst of the arts. - Author: Sande Harsa - Tags: movie-review, miff-2026 Melbourne International Film Festival 2026 is ongoing and I went to watch my thirteenth and last session. This post my short review of “The Friend’s House is Here” > For context: I am a photographer/youtuber that wants to up my cinematography and storytelling, that’s why I’m watching 13 sessions at the film festival PLUS reviewing them here on my blog! This is the last movie for me this year! That flew past so fast. I actually found it more manageable than last years somehow, maybe because I knew what to expect. I love rushing to write this review before the next one, just so that I have the freshest perspective. I hope that someday some people that are looking to watch these movies might find this. Well who am I kidding, at the very least, I get to go back and read this, not sure if anyone else would! Anyways, let's get to the review ;) ## Why did I choose to watch this? The synopsis reeled me in. The story of two artists in Iran that just wants to express themselves through their art but unable to do so properly due to their acts being illegal. It has all the good stuff, the fight against oppression, the spirit of humanity, and the unquenchable thirst of the arts - like you don't have a choice. Just from reading the synopsis, I knew that I'd be inspired. I knew that I'd be grateful to be able to freely do art, and inspired to step outside of my comfort zone more because I truly have less to lose than them. How did the movie actually go? Let's get into it. *All images courtesy of miff.com.au* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/16/4f/164f5675-f8de-440a-ae0a-ebe2c9767c26/content/images/2026/08/the-friends-039307_18264.jpg) ## Who would I recommend this to? Artists, creators, humanists, feminists. People who appreciate the feeling of making something and even making something because that's the only choice that you have - you just gotta create. People who like to see people banding together and express themselves. Plus, fans of Abbas Kiarostami, the co-directors mention that they take inspiration from his filmmaking. *Spoilers ahead* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/16/4f/164f5675-f8de-440a-ae0a-ebe2c9767c26/content/images/2026/08/the-friends-039307_18260.jpg) ## Structure The film starts off with a lot of happy feelings. People are celebrating, spending time together. The main characters were introduced, Pari, an underground playwright and Hanna, a dancer. It felt like an ending of a feel good movie. But of course this is just the prologue before challenges happen. Then a conflict happened in the middle, the characters start to try to get out of it. A compromise was made to get out of the issue. Life happens, it feels like "it is what it is", then you realise that the start of the movie is just how life is like for them. There are always ups and downs, things probably didn't go their way before the events in the movies and perhaps after. With all that, I'm trying to say that it's kinda structured in a way that shows a glimpse of these artists' life in Iran, which is exactly what it says in the synopsis and it's told in a beautiful way. The structure bit that I liked the most was the way they introduce a possible twist in the story by mixing reality and fiction. At the start of the movie, we see Pari in a state of panic, but the we realise that she was acting in a play. Then there's a second time we see Pari in that state, only this time it's ambiguous. "Is it not a play? Is this time real? Why does it seem like something is actually happening?" a really clever way to build up suspense. The mix between fiction and reality reminds me of the film ['Parallel Tales'](https://edn.as/miff-2026-parallel-tales/) that I also watched this MIFF - if you like this fiction-reality mix, the whole film is just that! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/16/4f/164f5675-f8de-440a-ae0a-ebe2c9767c26/content/images/2026/08/the-friends-039307_18261.jpg) ## Narrative Throughout the montage at the start, the Pari and Hanna were being told off by people around them for not being "decent", in this case for not covering their hair. But they brush it off, living their life like they want to live. They don't always get along, but they always have each other. The way the shots are setup (more in the next section) means that you get to immerse yourself in the story with each scene. I love the subtle things that is brought up between Pari and Hanna; for example Hanna asking Pari "why don't you ask me to stay?" and Pari answered "I'm supporting whatever you decide to do", but then later in the story Pari actually said "I want you to stay" - a simple and nice callback. I mentioned that I decided to watch this to get inspired by the story. And yes, very much so. I love to see people trying their best and hardest for a goal that is almost can be boiled down to "just because", they are not forced to go for this but this is what they want to do. That's why I like to read sports mangas. I find the story of grit and passion very moving and inspiring. This film is set in a context that has way more at stake than shonen sports mangas, and that makes it heavier and more meaningful. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/16/4f/164f5675-f8de-440a-ae0a-ebe2c9767c26/content/images/2026/08/the-friends-039307_18263-1.jpg) ## Cinematography This is the cinematography style that I like the most, and I just realised this during this year's MIFF - as I've written in my review for ['A Girl Unknown'](https://edn.as/miff-2026-a-girl-unknown/), let me pull what I wrote: > To describe it, they use stationary camera angles to take a shot of a scene where the actors move in and out of that frame. Relying on good audio design for the audience to get what’s happening off screen. I find that it reels you in, in a natural way. It’s like when you sit down at your sofa and watch TV, maybe there’s a family member in the kitchen rustling about making food then eventually show up into your field of vision carrying a sandwich. When you heard the sounds, your subconscious mind (or maybe conscious mind) start to imagine what they are doing, then when they show up, you piece it together and your brain is satisfied with the resolution of the tiny mystery. In this film, that style was used again and again, in a pleasing way. In particular, there was a scene when Hanna came home and the camera stayed on one angle for the full duration of the scene, maybe 3-4 minutes. Hanna came in and out the field of view, then eventually sat down in front of a mirror, and only her reflection is in view but not her real body. That was a pretty cool shot. The film was full of them! At the directors Q&A, they revealed that they were inspired by Abbas Kiarostami, a legendary Iranian filmmaker, who is known for this style. I didn't know about him before, sounds like I need to put his films on my list. One of the film is actually "Where is the Friend's House?", which this film's title is referencing. Neat huh. ## Outro "The Friend's House is Here" is a terrific film about passion, grit, and friendships. As I predicted, it has all the good stuff, the fight against oppression, the spirit of humanity, and the unquenchable thirst of the arts. I find it moving and inspiring, and if you are a fellow artist, creator, or maybe just a curious human, I think you would too.