Six teenage boys in a remote village decide to work in the village cages in order to raise the money they need to rent a projector.

Juror comments: Aparat is so meaningful! I am inspired by how movies and television shows can bring people from all over the world together. Stories connect people across languages and cultures. But, seeing a film is not always possible. The boys in the story work so hard to be able to watch just one film and succeeding brings them so much joy!

Aparat is the story of six boys in the Middle East who go on a journey to rent a movie projector. They start off collecting iron and wires for hours to trade them in for a single DVD. One day they come across a movie projector but the rent is outrageous. Will they ever get to watch the movie?

I love how all of the boys work together to get the movie and how grateful they are to have the opportunity to watch it. The camera work is very still, creating a sense of calm and highlighting the professional work. There are multiple shots in each scene to bring dimension to the story. The location is amazing! The landscape and houses convey the resources the kids have and the real challenge they face meeting their simple goal. The actors express deep emotions such as disappointment and joy through facial expressions and tone of voice. Despite being different in age, they seem like a team. The director is an Iranian filmmaker who has made many short films in different genres. My favorite moment in the film is at the very end. The filmmaker is very clever in how he handled the ending. This film connects with the audience and also allows people to see kids living in a different part of the world with different resources.

The message is that stories, especially those told via film, can bring people together no matter where they are in the world.

I give Aparat 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 6 to 18, plus adults. Reviewed by Nyara A., KIDS FIRST!