“Tonight's Homework”
The initial idea for Tonight’s Homework (Masgh-e Emshab) was based on Abbas Kiarostami’s film Homework (Mashgh-e Shab). The intention was to find out whether after three decades, students and parents are still faced with the challenge of homework, meaning assignments intended to be done at home. In their preliminary research the directors came to realize that this was no longer a significant issue for students, parents, and teachers. In other words, the issue of homework as a problem of the educational system has been replaced by greater and more significant challenges, such as the appearance of social class differences and its effect on students’ learning interests, the disregard of parents in relation to their children’s education, a lack of planning by the education and development system to promote enthusiasm in students, and many other issues. In this film we meet children who due to their living context have life experiences that are significantly different from their peers; children who try to develop their talents and capabilities despite great difficulties. Alongside the film’s main topic, the directors also present a parallel comparison to Abbas Kiarostami’s film, in order to present their research within a deeper context.
Director Biography
Ashkan Nejati’s Biography: Ashkan Nejati was born in 1978. He is an author, director, actor, and composer for theater and cinema who received his Master degree in Theater Directing from Tehran University’s College of Fine Arts. He has directed various plays including “The Anniversary” by Chekhov, “The Émigrés” by Sławomir Mrożek, and “Something will be Done” by Heinrich Böll. He has also appeared in more than twenty plays. His first foray into cinema was as an actor in the film “There will be blood on Wednesday”, followed by “Appendicitis” and “Voiceless”. He has also composed the music for the opening titles and end credits of “Conditional Release” and “Voiceless”.
Filmography: You or I (short film, 2010), Something Like Farasati (short film, 2011), Under the Earth’s Feet (short film, 2016), Tonight’s Homework (documentary, 2021)
Mehran Nematollahi’s Biography: Mehran Nematollahi was born in Isfahan in 1985. He started his career in the arts since 2009, first as an actor and later as an author. He has written two plays: “Eternal Calling” and “Forgetfulness on a Repeating Line”, as well as a collection of short stories titled “There is no Alternative”. He has also collaborated with various publications including Roshd, and Hamshahri Javan. He has received numerous awards from literary festivals, including: “Mosque and Trench” (Isfahan), “Festival of Morality Tales” (Tehran), and “Efficient Consumption” (Oil Ministry), etc.
Filmography: It Happened without Notice (short film, 2013), Under the Earth’s Feet (short film, 2016), Forty per Minute (short film, 2017), Tonight’s Homework (documentary, 2021)
Director’s Statement
The educational system of Iran fails to help children discover their talents and interests, hence, by the end of high school students have yet to discover who they really are.At th e same time the educational system also fails to teach them any practical social and personal matters, and releases them into society as adults without a clear understanding of their context. These challenges are transferred from generation to generation.