Children of Heaven

    The 1997 film Children of Heaven, which is directed and written by Majid Majidi, is a very powerful and beautiful story of a brother and sister in poverty stricken Iran. After losing his sister Zahra's shoes, Ali comes up with the idea of sharing his shoes with his sister out of love and respect for her, as well as for their hardworking father, as Ali does not want make his father feel pressured into spending money they do not have for a new pair of shoes. Despite the pressures from school, for being frequently late since the the shoe-sharing idea, Ali continues to stay loyal to the shoe-swap plan and refuses to reveal the shoe dilemma as his reasoning for consistent tardiness; which, seems to to be out of respect for his family as not to embarrass or put further pressure on their impoverished life-style. A very powerful scene in the movie occurs when Ali goes with his father for a day to earn money through gardening work in a wealthy area of Iran; it is within this setting in which Ali's father's lack of education and social skills comes on full display, one of the infamous formulas that equals poverty. Ali's father, although a very dedicated family-oriented man, does not possess the skills to even inquire about a job, rather it is Ali and a wealthy child's yearn to play with him which gets his father paid work; hence, money for the family. In the end of the film, after a tearful plead to the school's coach, Ali gains the opportunity to participate in a monumental race involving the top fastest boys from each of the schools of the area; with the third place prize being a brand new pair of shoes. Determined to win for his sister, Ali makes every possible attempt to finish third, only to be over inspired by his love for his sister and push himself to the limits, finishing first place, leaving Ali in tears as he receives much applause for his victory; but no pair of shoes. Although a the end of the film, Ali arrives home empty handed and saddened over his broken promise of winning shoes for his sister, he truly is the one who comes through for his sister and family as the camera cuts to the scene of his father, using the money they earned working in the wealthy area of Iran, to buy two new pairs of shoes.

     For a simple film, the themes of Children of Heaven were as equally simple; poverty and respect. The true beauty of this film lies within the camera work, as the themes of poverty and respect are strengthen through the use of the camera. The hardships of poverty are perfectly defined throughout the film, as director Majid Majidi uses multiple close-up shots on Ali's worn and torn shoes, especially in Zahra's chase scene through the street gutters. Just the pure determination and desperation that is shown of Zahra's chase and desperation, as she constantly chases and swats at the floating worn and torn shoe, perfectly, but beautifully, captures the pain and survival of poverty. Even the scene of Ali's father seeking work in the wealthy area of Iran is powerful, even though sad, as Ali's father almost looks like a buffoon as he speaks to landowners through their intercoms, but constantly runs away when knowing how to react to barking dogs and people asking of his business; the pity of poverty powerfully captured. Ali, through his actions, demonstrates tremendous amounts of respect, as above all cost even above himself, he constantly thinks of his family and sister in all trying times.

    This is film is creative and beautiful in my opinion. Director Majid Majidi takes a very simple plot, and transforms into a a powerful and moving story. This movie, I feel, should inspire all aspiring playwrights and directors, as it is a movie that is defined through the way it is portrayed. In today's society of overused movie ideas and themes, a film can still be unique and original through the way it portrayed, directed, and shot. I fully enjoyed and respected this film as I would recommend to anyone, especially              those aspiring to create films of their own.