NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (March 2024): Criterion have transferred Amir Naderi's The Runner to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "New 2K digital restoration, supervised by director Amir Naderi". In the 1.37:1 aspect ratio - the HD presentation is strong. There is no damage and colors may be slightly faded but consistent. I was not expecting it to look as good as it does. The 1080P provides a highly watchable presentation without flaws or blemishes.

NOTE: We have added 52 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Criterion use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original Farsi language. The Runner does not rely much on the audio which is occurring within the context of the story and able to be heard by the characters (diegetic.) There is no credited score but we can hear loud planes, offshore ships, trains etc. Criterion offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Criterion Blu-ray include a new 22-minute conversation between Naderi and filmmaker Ramin Bahrani plus a 40-minute audio interview from 2022 with Naderi and actor Madjid Niroumand who was also in the director's Water, Wind, Dust five years later, moderated by programmer and Rialto Pictures founder Bruce Goldstein (who is co-credited with the subtitle translation). There is also Naderi's 1974, 48-minute, minimalist film, Waiting, about a lad's daily chore of bringing a crystal bowl to be filled with ice - then returning home after 'love glances'. There is also a 1/4 hour afterword by the director; "Where do you stand today, Amir Naderi?". Lastly is a trailer and the package has liner notes with an essay by critic Ehsan Khoshbakht author of Asghar Farhadi: Interviews (Conversations with Filmmakers Series).

Typical for many Iranian post-revolution cinema, Amir Naderi's "The Runner" has a protagonist child who is viewed through a neo-realistic lens. We know Amiro is orphaned but we are unaware of his back-story. Immersed in poverty we quickly learn that he is a resilient survivalist who is thrilled to see the future in trains, ships and planes that cross his path as he collects empty bottles floating from waters of the Persian Gulf with other young urchins of the street. This is one method of simply eking out sustenance - often watermelon. Nothing personifies his character more than when innocent Amiro attempts to climb a hill of gravel with his feet sliding on loose pebbles barely advancing him - yet he persists... and succeeds, where others would exhaustingly quit. He is not a martyr - he sees a path and also pursues education because he, heartbreakingly, has "no one to put him in school". His running represents his drive for a better life. No matter his circumstance, with mountains to overcome, he will keep running. There is no 'give up' in our little Amiro. "The Runner" gives the viewer a life-affirming declaration on positive assertion and adaptability. There can't be a better message for kids... or adults. Criterion bring this essential cinematic gold from the formative, initial, era of Iranian film (Naderi is a giant in 20th century Persian cinema) to Blu-ray. Great film - great package. Your digital library is poorer without The Runner - cited by many critics to be one of the most influential films of the last 1/2 century. It is very strongly recommended!

Gary Tooze