Ahmad's Journey: Is 'Where Is the Friend's House?' Really About Education?

Hey horrorheads! I know, I know, this isn't your typical blood-and-guts fare, but hear me out. I recently watched 'Where Is the Friend's House?' (Khane-ye Dust Kojast?) and I'm obsessed. Okay, yes, it's Iranian New Wave cinema from the late 80s, so basically the opposite of jump scares. But hear me out: I think it's WAY more unsettling than a lot of the horror I've seen lately. I mean, think about it. Ahmad's entire world is flipped upside down because he accidentally grabbed his friend's notebook. The whole movie is him (spoiler alert!) desperately trying to give it back so his friend doesn't get kicked out of school. But what if the REAL horror is the rigid, unyielding system of education being depicted? The teacher is this looming, almost faceless authority figure who seems more concerned with punishment than actual learning. And the adults Ahmad encounters are mostly dismissive or just flat-out don't listen to him! It's like he's trapped in this Kafkaesque nightmare where no one understands the urgency of his mission. Remember the scene where Ahmad keeps getting sent to the wrong house? It's almost comedic, but also deeply frustrating. Each wrong turn feels like another layer of bureaucracy, another obstacle placed in his way by a society seemingly designed to stifle individuality. It's like the film is telling us that the fear of failure, the pressure to conform, are the real monsters. And honestly? That hits harder than any ghost or demon I've seen on screen lately. Maybe I'm reaching, but I think 'Where Is the Friend's House?' is subtly terrifying. It's a slow burn for sure, but it preys on our anxieties about responsibility, authority, and the potential cruelty of a seemingly benign system. What do you guys think? Am I totally off-base, or did this movie also give you the creeps in its own weird way?