CHILDREN OF HEAVEN  1997
( بچه‌های آسمان, Baččehā-ye āsmān)
Directed by Majid Majidi
90 minutes
In Persian with English subtitles

We follow the plight of Ali, a young boy who has inadvertently lost his sister’s new shoes. It wasn’t his fault, but he still feels the responsibility. Without confessing what happened he tries to figure out a solution somehow. It is as simple as that, and the film unfolds with such grace and richness, which is only possible because the story is so stripped down. In fact, most of Iran’s cinema is well known for its unrushed speed, giving the audience time to embrace the world at large. So when a movie slows down, the world opens up. Seen in this light, most Hollywood movies are straightjackets. Through Ali’s journey we come across many aspects of Iranian life. We see poverty, hardships, the tightness of the family unit, both religious and education institutions.

The film doesn’t rely on dialogue very much, it’s mostly told through images that resonate. Illuminated colours, sublimely lit scenes, tenderness, the sparkle of a child’s eye. Here a spirit is captured, not really a story.

This was the first Iranian film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film.

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