Rating: 
Summary: The power of simplicity
Review: One of the most distinguished accomplishment of "Children of Heaven" is it's simplicity. One of the Best Foreign Language Film I've seen. Majid Majidi did an superb excellent job of writing and directing it and keeping it simple. The two children are fascinating,natural actors and astounding. The story is pure and simple.Set in Iran.It about how a boy Ali try to aim win a race but just for the place which the prize included shoes.Not the 1st prize. It's because Ali lost his sister,Zahra's shoes and being so poor with pathetic parents they have to keep it a secret and share shoes every school day. His sister would wear it first and run back to meet at a point where she passed the shoes over to her brother. Ali just ran like crazy trying to beat the school-bell. One day he have a chance to take part in a race which he could win a new pair of shoes...Guess what happen?? This delightful yet moving movie illustrated a bitter-sweet tale which touched my heart. Showed me the true meaning of priceless kinship and determination.
Rating:
Summary: IT REALLY DOES WORK ITS MAGIC!!!!!
Review: This movie truly is a crowd pleaser. A terrific film from Majid Majidi, exploring the frank tenderness of the human heart between a brother, Ali, and his little sister, Zahra. These two charming young actors ( especially Zahra, God she's so adorable) gave a marvelous performance. It is a simple story about how Ali accidently lost Zahra's shoe's and now Ali makes a wise decision by not telling his parents and so he shares his own shoes with Zahra. She attends her day class with his shoes and when she's done with no time to kill she has to run to him to hand him over his shoes so that he can catch his afternoon class. But he kept running late for classes and in trouble for being late. When there was a school ad posted regarding a marathon race, Ali decides to go for that ultimate sacrifice for the love of his sister all beacause the prize was first place gets the cup and third place gets a pair of running shoes. But somehow he went first place and got the cup. Eventually that wasn't the end for there was a bigger surprise (I won't give anything away, see it for yourself). This formula has worked so exquisitley. What a magical film.
Rating: 
Summary: Sympathy through suffering
Review: It's a movie about sympathy through suffering. Happily, the suffering these beautiful children have to endure is not terrible; it is only the loss of a pair of shoes. Children should never have to suffer anything worse than this. It is, however, tragedy enough to unite them, to cause them to share in each other's suffering and selflessly seek the best for the other. They do not solve their problem, despite valiant efforts, but watching them make decisions with other people in mind is beautiful. A quiet, enjoyable film.
Rating:
Summary: Delicate and arrestingly beautiful...
Review: This is a story of love and humanness. Simple but deep in meaning. The focus is the relationship between a brother and a sister of a poor family after the brother lost the one thing precious for the sister that is her only shoe. (...)The story is really tender and affecting your deep soul, while the acting superb. It is truly one of the best movies of all time. In all, this story depicted on virtue; about good and considerate children who understand their poor state and the struggle of their parent to make a living, and also recognise others who are even less fortunate than they did. The family struggles in poverty, yet still kind to others and strive to live in an honest way despite been pressured by debtors. One of the beautiful scenes was when the father teaches the daughter not to take things that not belong to them such as a chunk of sugar even though they were in need of it. And love is all around in this movie, clearly expressed by the concerns and efforts made by each one of them to the other. The beauty of this story is simply the tenderness, values or moral that it brings forth; something that every soul comprehends and appreciates. This film is definitely for all that cherish a real art and a cinema of true beauty - humane, poignant and innocent in every nature.
Rating:
Summary: Truly beautiful, simple and yet remarkable...
Review: Bacheha-Ye aseman (Children of Heaven) It was with some trepidation that I popped this DVD into the player - it was, after all, my first venture into Iranian cinema, so I was a little unsure what to expect.
I am used to, and for the most part, enjoy foreign films. They open up an incredible world of cinema that one would otherwise miss.
After five minutes, it was fairly evident that this film was something a bit special.
The story is simple. While at market shopping, Ali loses his sisters school shoes. After desperately trying in vain to find them, he decides that he and his sister will share his sneakers, meeting her after to school each day to recover them from her, in order to get to school himself.
That is pretty much a synopsis of the entire movie. It doesn't end there however... This film is played with such beauty and innocence; it is a true pleasure to watch. Mohammad Amir Naji plays Ali with such incredible depth and passion, one is completely drawn into his plight. From the start of the film, we see the relationship between brother and sister, played with equal warmth by Bahare Seddiqi, strained as he explains how he lost her shoes. The sorrow on Ali's face, and Zahra's tears at the news, are truly heartbreaking to watch. The expressions on the faces of the children are so genuine, it is clear that spending a cinematic hour and half will be a pleasure, albeit not an easy one. We see Ali and his Father looking for work as gardeners. From the outset it is clear that Ali's Father is strict, but it is also evident he loves his son dearly, and the simple exchange of smiles as they find their first job is heart-warming, and totally believable.
Cycling through the city, it is very striking that there is a clear division between rich and poor. We are watching a boy, to afraid to tell his father of the loss of a pair of shoes, riding through streets with billboards advertising cell phones, into rural areas where houses with swimming pools, ornate architecture and luxury are rife. There is so much in Western civilisation that we take for granted. What to us are simple daily belongings to others is pure decadence. Aside from anything else, this film is a window into a world so many of us do not understand.
Simple things bring Ali pleasure, blowing bubbles, swinging on swings with his new found friend, the smiles and laughter of the children is absorbing. Later in the film we see Ali enter a race in order to win a pair of brand new sneakers for his sister. To win them, he must come third. Again we see the division of wealth, as Ali races through the streets, the thoughts and images of his sister swirling in his head, and on screen, while at the same time, parents of other children film the race on camcorders, all the time Ali running, fighting for the shoes he needs so desperately. The film is directed perfectly, and the credit for this goes to Majid Majidi, whose films have won acclaim worldwide. There are no special effects, no luxurious settings. There are times when the film feels like a documentary in the direction, and that works in its favour. This film would make an excellent introduction into the world of foreign cinema. Throughout the movie, the expressions and emotions displayed by the children speak far louder than any dialogue ever could. The film is not dialogue intensive, and one could easily watch the film, and understand the story, even without the aid of subtitles. This film was nominated for an Academy Award, and it not difficult to see why.
Ignoring for a moment the subtitles and language barriers, since they are not overly crucial to the film, this is a story of true innocence, and tugs hard at the heartstrings, sometimes to breaking point. The portrayal of the children is gentle, warm and absolutely believable, and one cannot help but be drawn into this tale, as it gently unwinds. It is sometimes tough to watch the emotions played out, but ultimately, worth every second. Missing this film, particularly if simply put off by the fact it is foreign language, would a sad deprivation of the senses and the heart. It is not just a film, it is an experience, and one that is completely passionate, and totally unforgettable. I truly cannot recommend this highly enough. It is widely available on DVD or VHS - rent it, borrow it or buy it - you will be glad that you did! Reviewed by Ollie
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful and Endearing
Review: This is the first Iranian film that I have viewed. I did not know what to expect, and I was pleasantly sursrised with this touching film. The two children, Ali and Zahra, really reach your heart. I loved this film so much, that I am purchasing it for my own collection.
Rating:
Summary: The power of simplicity
Review: One of the most distinguished accomplishment of "Children of Heaven" is it's simplicity. One of the Best Foreign Language Film I've seen. Majid Majidi did an superb excellent job of writing and directing it and keeping it simple. The two children are fascinating,natural actors and astounding. The story is pure and simple.Set in Iran.It about how a boy Ali try to aim win a race but just for the place which the prize included shoes.Not the 1st prize. It's because Ali lost his sister,Zahra's shoes and being so poor with pathetic parents they have to keep it a secret and share shoes every school day. His sister would wear it first and run back to meet at a point where she passed the shoes over to her brother. Ali just ran like crazy trying to beat the school-bell. One day he have a chance to take part in a race which he could win a new pair of shoes...Guess what happen?? This delightful yet moving movie illustrated a bitter-sweet tale which touched my heart. Showed me the true meaning of priceless kinship and determination.
Rating:
Summary: A great childrens movie for all ages
Review: I really enjoyed this movie and is the best children's movie I have ever seen in my life. I found the story spellbinding since it was a reminder of my own childhood even though I grew up in the US middle class while the story is set in the slums of Iran.
The acting is first rate and surpasses a lot of what Hollywood churns out. A definite must see for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: Ali and Zahra's World
Review: The Children of Heaven is the second Iranian film by Majid Majidi I've seem. Like the first one, The Color of Paradise, the storyline and the images stuck in my mind for weeks. In The Children of Heaven, Majid Majidi focuses almost exclusively on the world of children. Adults are in the film, but they are secondary. Despite their not being the focus, the adults in Children of Heaven are not cardboard figures, however. Even with their brief dialogue, their personalities are well defined. The Children of Heaven is the story of Ali and Zahra. They live with their parents and baby (I don't know which) brother or sister in a tradtional, working class section of an unnamed Iranian city.
The movie begins at the shoe repair shop where Ali has taken Zahra's only pair of school shoes to be stitched back together. After leaving the shop, he runs other errands and loses the Zahra's shoes on the way. Without her shoes, Zahra cannot go to school. Their father doesn't not keep ready money for such an emergency. They are poor people. Too afraid to tell their father, Ali hits on a plan to help Zahra to get to school. She will wear his old worn out sneakers to class in the morning. When she gets out of school in the afternoon, she is to come straight home and give him the sneakers so he can attend his classes. The whole movie centers around the shoes. Getting back and forth to school becomes a stressful game for Ali and Zahra. After seeing The Children of Heaven I wondered if any producer in Hollywood has the genius to pull off such a story centering around an item as simple as a shoe. It would be a nice, radical change if one did. Children of Heaven is excellent for people of all ages. Even though the story is filmed and set in Iran, no time is given to preaching precepts about Islam. The movie is about the adventures, genius, love, and imagination of children. Please send the West more of your excellent work Mr. Majidi!
Rating:
Summary: Ali and Zahra's World
Review: Children of Heaven is the second movie by Majid Majidi that I have seen. The first was Touch of Heaven. Unlike Touch of Heaven which has a very sad ending, Children of Heaven has a double ending, which is both sad and happy. Like Touch of Heaven, Children of Heaven focuses on the world of children. Ali and Zahra are siblings. They live in the working class, traditional section of a city in Iran with their father, mother, and baby (I cannot tell which) brother or sister. One day after having Zahra's school shoes repaired and running some other errands, Ali loses the shoes on his way home. Without her shoes, Zahra cannot attend school. They are afraid to tell their parents what has happened. There is no money to spare at the time for new shoes. So Ali comes up with a plan so that Zahra won't miss school. They will share his old sneakers, that are so worn down that they are on their last leg. To keep their secret from their parents, share the sneakers, and get to school, the two make their predicament into a rather stressful, but successful game. Children of Heaven is a beautiful movie. Like Majidi's other film, Touch of Heaven, it takes us into the lives of children, school, and family life in Iran. Mr. Majidi has to be a genius to build a successful storyline around a pair of shoes. It would be neat if some of Hollywood producers would make a successful attempt at making a storyline around a simple item. The only identication that the movie is filmed in an Islamic nation is the girl's and woman's clothing. There is no idealogy being preached here, only love, unselfishness, perseverance, love of family, unselfishness. I like would if movies like Children of Heaven would be distributed and shown more in this country. Such a movie shows that people everywhere, deep in the core of themselves, are so alike. So why don't we just get along?
| 
