The Lost Whisker – Sebil e Mardouneh (2007)

Directed by: Javad Ardakani | 90 minutes | drama, comedy, family | Actors: Fatemeh Shaker, Bahman Arazli, Ali Kamali Ardakani, Seyed Ziya Mador Taheri, Seyed Ebrahim Mashmool Maghadam, Abolfazi Sayah Zarandi, Farzaneh Morovati, Ali Akbar Niyaz-Zadeh

Iran has a vibrant film industry, in which a prominent place has also been reserved for children’s cinema. Jafar Panahi, Abbas Kiarostami, Bahram Beizai and Amir Naderi are the most famous names in the west. It is sometimes suggested that Iranian filmmakers only have the opportunity to express their social involvement in children’s films. All films – including those primarily intended for children – are subject to extensive censorship. Political messages are kept out of the films and there should not be any criticism of Islam. Nude is forbidden and women must be properly dressed. A package of rules that is difficult to circumvent, even when making in children’s films. Javad Ardakani plays it safe. The film, written and directed by him, ‘The Lost Whisker’ (‘Handlebar Mustache’ or ‘Sebil e Mardene’, 2007), unlike the work of Panahi and Kiarostami, is far from social commentary.

Masumeh is a six-year-old girl who loves nothing more than to play with her uncle Champ. This forty-year-old behemoth has the mental powers of a three-year-old, so it’s Masumeh’s job to keep him out of trouble. Champ has a great hobby: cycling. Since he doesn’t have a bicycle of his own, the inhabitants of Ardakan had better lock their bicycles, because he will take it with him in a moment. For example, Masumeh and Champ end up in a crazy situation every day, much to the dismay of the girl’s parents. The solution is to give Champ its own bicycle, but there is no money for that. Masumeh’s grandfather does have a lot of money, with which he has been helping people out for years. It has earned him the nickname ‘Hero’ in the city. One day an old friend comes to visit him. He finds himself in trouble after causing an accident that injured two people. Whether Hero wants to lend him a million ‘just’. He will pay it back within ten days. According to an ancient Iranian proverb, the hair from the mustache of a righteous man brings prosperity within ten days. Hero is a man of traditions and principles and asks the man for a whisker as a ‘deposit’.

Marsumeh watches the scene in amazement. She didn’t know that a whisker could be worth so much money. It suddenly brings Champ a lot closer to the beautiful bike she saw in the shop. And so the droll pair goes in search of a whisker just like that of Hero’s friend. However, there is a hurry, because more people are interested in the bicycle. It takes a lot of effort, but they eventually find a suitable hair. The grief is great when the bicycle repairman tells them that they cannot take the bicycle with them. Out of sheer desperation, Marsumeh ‘borrows’ the hair of Hero’s friend, carefully stored away by her grandfather. But the bicycle mechanic does not fall for that either. Then the hair gets lost, while the ten days are almost up and Hero’s friend returns soon with the money. Grandpa naturally wants to give him back his whisker, on principle. Will Marsumeh and Champ find a solution to their problem in time…?

All that hassle over something as simple as a whisker. It fits entirely in the tradition of the simple, gentle stories that Iranian filmmakers use to make a classic children’s film. ‘Handlebar Mustache’ – the title refers not only to the mustache but also to the object of affection of Masumeh and Champ, the bicycle (handlebar) – is a funny fable about fidelity, honesty and uprightness, directed by Javad Ardakani, who has built a career around children’s films. His best-known work is ‘Choori’ from 2001. Just like Panahi’s ‘The White Ballon’ (1995), ‘The Lost Whisker’ is told from the perspective of the child. Masumeh is a resourceful and persistent girl who will go to great lengths to get what she wants; in this case a bicycle for her mentally handicapped uncle Champ. Child star Fatemeh Shaker has charisma and acts naturally and convincingly, only her screaming, shrill voice sometimes works to her disadvantage. Together with lobbes Uncle Champ, she forms a striking and comical duo that makes the streets of Ardakan unsafe. In addition to this remarkable pair, Grandpa Hero is the most sympathetic appearance. Someone who deserves respect and respect. The other characters are less well developed. For example, the bicycle mechanic’s motives for helping Marsumeh and Champ – after he has more or less thwarted them – are somewhat far-fetched.

With atmospheric music and the stylish cinematography of Mohammad Ali Qolizadeh, this realistic, modern fairy tale completes. To top it all off, the viewer gets a fascinating glimpse into society in a medium-sized Iranian city. Javad Ardakani has delivered a sympathetic film with ‘The lost whisker’ that young and old can enjoy for an hour and a half. Funny, full of valuable life lessons and convincingly presented. Typically such a film that can put a smile on everyone’s lips. Although less layered than the work of Kiarostami and Panahi, it is certainly worth it.