In the story 'Always a Boy,' Mohammad Hossein Asadi explores the challenges of returning home and confronting the past. Farhad returns to his parental home after a year away, under the pretext of his mother's birthday, but everything has changed. His mother has developed Alzheimer's disease, and his father struggles with signs of aging. In the meantime, the hidden secrets that lie within this house gradually come to light.
Changes in the House and Family
The old, dilapidated house is no longer the safe and peaceful place it once was. With Farhad's arrival, the reminders of the past and the family's changes are clearly felt. His mother's Alzheimer's not only connects him to the past but also reveals secrets that should have remained buried. As a result, the house, with its burst pipes and dying cats, becomes a space filled with tension.
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Time and Place in the Narrative
One of the notable features of 'Always a Boy' is the flexibility of time in the narrative. Time is portrayed in such a way that engages the audience and challenges all efforts to approach the truth. Kazoozi uses temporal markers to narrate the story in a complex manner, confronting the audience with new pieces of truth each time.
The vivid images depicted of characters and settings convey to the audience the feeling that they too are part of this story. For example, a mother sitting with her back to us, watching television, or Farhad suddenly shouting are images that will not be easily forgotten.
Ultimately, 'Always a Boy' is not just a family story; it is a reflection of the challenges of confronting the past and the effort to understand it. This story effectively shows that some houses are not just places; they are living memories of the past, and returning to them can be both pleasurable and painful.
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