As we look into this film, we see that it has striking features that make it an Iranian film.
It has been said before that "the form will set you free", this is possibly why Iran has, as the text states it, produced state-supported and independent films of extraordinary quality. Because Iran has an extraordinarily strict set of rules when it comes to filmmaking, the filmmakers that blossom from that country are forced to abide by a "form". Which is why many use children instead of adults, and most are shot outdoors. Because of this "form" that they are forced to abide by they are pushed past their limits to do things that otherwise they would never have done. Take their main character for example, which is usually a child, if it were not for this strict system of rules, they would not likely use children, because it is much easier to tell an adult how to act rather than a child. On the other had because the stories are based around children they seem to develop and grow with the character, giving the film an innocent feeling in which we are able to take away whatever we wish to put into it.
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There are many filmmakers that believe "the form will set you free" and would have it no other way. Because of this, their films are not a lashing out at the government, but rather a forced exploration of "Art", which pushes the filmmaker past his known limits and makes him discover what he knew he could never do, which usually results in a wonderfully immersive film.
So, as we see, what makes this film uniquely Iranian is that the filmmakers are forced to abide by a form, which is derived from a strict set of rules, and in the end usually shapes their films into exquisite masterpieces.
