Children of Heaven (1997)

I was stumped and taken back after seeing this master piece from Majid Majidi.This is the movie which was celeberated in all Film festivals and It was lying in my shelf for many months.The movie is about a simple secret which was shown so beautifully which can not be stated or explained as the way we enjoy and feel when we watch Children of heaven.It takes a ride from a Kids mindstate in dealing with the problem to the determination they show to resolve it.

Ali (Mir Farrokh Hashemian) and and his younger sister Zahra (Bahare Seddigi) are well behaved and polite children of Mohamed who runs his family with his sick Wife .Ali accidentally loses his sisters shoes which he takes out for repairing.Now Zahra can not start to school with out shoes.She wears Ali’s shoes and runs back from after school to return Ali’s shoes as he has to wear the same to the school.Understanding their father’s state of poverty they decide to keep it as a secret.Zahra finds her shoe worn by her school mate.Ali’s school decides to form a team for Marathon race .And the third prize for winning the race would be a pair of shoes.Ali understanding this convinces his PT Master to take him to the race aiming for a third prize.Now Ali needs third prize to gift her sister the shoe.In a dramatic way the movie ends which will touch your heart .

The emotions of Nine year old Ali and Six year old Zahra were so meticulously shown which blows along to watch out this special movie.Every expression the kid Zahra shows in anguish when seeing her shoe worn by her school mate is amazing . The way the kids care for each other and give the film rare intimate insights into Iranian daily life.And when the complications arise by Ali getting late for School were honestly shown with such a piece of innocence.

It would be a let down if I don’t mention about the parents of Ali as they show the intimacy and state of being poor by their activities in a profound way which makes you understand how valuable the shoes which were lost.Ali takes the movie with his determination and sincerity from the moment he appears in the screen.It was mind blowing when he thinks amidst the running sprint of the way her sister shuttles to school and heart broken when he lost her shoes .Its is easy to enter in to Ali’s mindset with his simplicity and innocence he steals the viewers heart . The moments he feels relaxes and getting tensed we travel along with him .

Innocence can not be faked and beauty was oozing out from the camera in picturizing the innocence ,It was one rare Iranian ( by far I watched ) where the music is part of the characters.Lots of little BGMs which sweeps along particularly when Zahar runs for Ali’S Shoes when she drops in the Gutter.We along with Ali and Zahra realize the value for the shoe when the kids cry on the screen.We will sure need Ali to win the race but it should be third position to get the shoes.

Majid Majidi’s movie after Color of Paradise where he states the mindset and world of Blind boy shows his experience he had during his child hood.It is one movie which can not be missed for any reasons if you had a chance.If not take a choice to watch it.