‘Remembering the sweet days with him and the bitter 10 years without him.’ A tribute film made by cinematographer Seifollah Samadian, who had been Abbas Kiarostami’s cinematographer, to mark the tenth anniversary of his death - that would be the dry way to introduce On the Road with Abbas Kiarostami. But this film’s ambition and achievement easily surpass our expectations. For 25 years, Samadian traveled with Kiarostami and recorded their journeys. He now turns that footage into a film in the spirit of Kiarostami’s own films, arranging within it the secret keys to the beauty and mystery of his films. Ten stories, ten journeys unfold, using the ‘car’ and the ‘road’ as motifs. What does it mean to be on the road with Kiarostami? On these journeys, they are accompanied by Jafar Panahi. But the film’s most unexpected charm lies in the moments that capture Kiarostami’s small, silly pranks and jokes. These are joyful memories that bring the film to life. This heartwarming tribute to Kiarostami is beautiful, warm, and, above all, delightful. (KANG Sowon)