Life's magic is in the simple things

Rating: 9/10 (4 October 2006)

The simple story of a family's struggles with poverty is told through the eyes of children. A boy misplaces the worn out shoes of his little sister, and thus is forced to share his own pair of sneakers with her, taking turns attending school. Afraid to tell their parents, the siblings continue the deception for days.
The father is hard working, yet poorly paid, while the mother appears repeatedly disabled by a slip disc condition. It is heart breaking to hear the parents discuss their money problems, mainly the unpaid rent and other bills. When the wife suggests an operation to put an end to her constant back pains, the husband insists that the dangers of permanent damage would be too risky, better to put up with occasional attacks. The viewer can recognize the true issue of money.
There are few, but very sincere expressions of love. To see the boy's face light up when his father praises his abilities is beautiful. When the mother expresses how proud she is of the children for helping her at home, the little ones beam with happiness. There are also examples of charity and generosity, neighborly gestures of kindness, that are rare in most cultures, especially in lands of plenty. The final minutes of the film are both deeply touching and hopeful. The scene ends in the little boy's total hopelessness, while the viewer knows about the eminent ray of joy to enter the children's life.
For people of other cultural background it is very pleasant to see how children here are compelled to unquestioned obedience towards authority figures, asking permission to speak by raising their finger, never daring to interrupt or be disrespectful. School work is seen as an honor, and talent as a gift. Despite obvious economic disadvantages, the absence of rebellious youth in this culturally different society is unknown to Westerners, and it is certainly refreshing.
Winning many International Awards, "Children Of Heaven" was also the first ever entry from Iran to be nominated for a Best Foreign Film Oscar. Pure and innocent, a true example of the triumph of the human spirit. I can highly recommend this film, especially to children unaccustomed to extreme poverty. Even without the ability to keep up with fast paced subtitles, one can appreciate the magic of this cinema gem!