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Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame Photos

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Movie Info

An Afghan girl faces obstacles in her quest for education.

Genre:

drama, war
Original Language:

Persian
Director:

Hana Makhmalbaf
Writer:

Marzieh Makhmalbaf
Runtime:

1h 21m

Cast & Crew

Abbas Alijome
Abbas

Abdolali Hoseinali
Talib boy

Hana Makhmalbaf
Director

Marzieh Makhmalbaf
Writer

Critic Reviews for Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame

All Critics (15) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (12) | Rotten (3)

An erratic and obvious fable on how girls and boys contend with hefty matters of war, education and the decent treatment of others.

February 23, 2012 | Full Review…

Robert Koehler
Variety
It may be naively done, but it still packs a punch.

July 25, 2008 | Rating: 3/5

Derek Malcolm
London Evening Standard
As the brave moppet, Nikbakht Noruz is tremendous.

July 25, 2008 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Anthony Quinn
Independent (UK)
Throughout, Makhmalbaf juggles extraordinary scenes of observation and tension, filling the screen with indelible imagery...

July 25, 2008 | Full Review…

Mike McCahill
Daily Telegraph (UK)
Builds up an overwrought symbolism that fails to hit the mark dramatically.

July 25, 2008 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Cath Clarke
Guardian
What the film says about contemporary Afghanistan is unclear, other than life is tough -- tougher if you're a woman, tougher still if you're a girl.

July 25, 2008 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
Gives us hope. [Full review in Spanish]

November 3, 2020 | Rating: 4.5/5 | Full Review…

Carlos Marañón
Cinemanía (Spain)
Like Bjork's character, Selma, in Lars von Trier's Dancer In The Dark, Bakhtay is so heart-crushingly innocent that it rips your heart out to see her hurt. She, like Selma, is too clueless to help herself.

September 26, 2016 | Full Review…

Georgie Hobbs
Dazed and Confused
Stretching this to feature length was a sad detraction from a clever and emotionally effective story.

April 8, 2011 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review…

Mike Edwards
What Culture
Vividly depicting the struggles of life in Afghanistan, 19-year-old filmmaker Makhmalbaf uses a story about young children to explore much bigger issues. The film is scruffy and simple, but packs a powerful punch.

March 10, 2011 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
Although this film has got a very serious point to make, Hana Makhalbaf has an enviable lightness of touch and always remembers to keep the story front and centre.

July 26, 2008 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Amber Wilkinson
Eye for Film
An emotionally engaging, impressively directed drama with a remarkable performance from Nikbaht Noruz.

July 25, 2008 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

View All Critic Reviews (15)

Audience Reviews for Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame

Feb 18, 2010

It'll be even better if the little girl and the other casts stop looking at the people behind the camera... seriously.

Cita W Super Reviewer
Aug 14, 2008

Great allegory, even if it gets too obvious in the end. Die or you won't be free.

Alex F Super Reviewer