"Children of Heaven" Blogs and Blabs

"Children of Heaven" is 1997 film is from Iran. It's the kind of film that the whole family can enjoy. It's about a 9-year old boy who loses his 7-year old sister's shoes through no fault of his own. They are very poor and they both want to keep it a secret from their parents so they share his only pair of worn-out sneakers. She wears them to school in the morning, and then runs through the streets, gives him the shoes and he wears them in the afternoon. Such a plan is not without its challenges, however. She almost loses a shoe when it falls into a gutter. He's late for school. The shoes are worn. Both of them crave a pair of their own.
Amir Farrokh Hasherman is cast as the boy. He has the biggest, most expressive eyes I've ever seen and my heart immediately went out to him. Bahare Seddiqi is the little sister. She wears a long dress and a white head covering just like all the other little girls. It's their shoes that show their individuality and she is always looking at all the other little girl's feet. One day she sees a little girl wearing her own lost shoes, but the other little girl is the daughter of a blind beggar. Later, there is a footrace announced in the little boy's school. He finds out that if he wins third prize he can get a new pair of sneakers. The tension mounts.
One of the best things about this film is that it brought me into another culture. This is not about revolution and bombs and sadness. This is just a simple story about the love between a brother and sister. It transcends all cultures, and makes the audience see the humanity of the children. There's one scene where they clean the shoes and blow great big soap bubbles at each other. It certainly is heartwarming.
Those of us who are comparatively well-off need to watch movies like this from time to time, just to remind ourselves what it's like for most of the people on this earth. It is so easy to get lost in our materialism, to become preoccupied with our looks, our clothes, our stuff, ourselves. I believe we are put on this earth to love God and to love one another, and that belief is summed up in the phrase: treat others as you would want to be treated. Embrace humility. Suffice to say that watching this movie will go a long way toward keeping you properly grounded.
I loved this movie. Watching the brother and sister and how to treat people was mesmerizing. The interactions between Ali and Zahra in this film are phenomenally moving. What amazing actors those two youngsters are! Some highlights that moved me was the scene where the little classmate (girl) returns the lost pen to Zahra and of course, the foot race, which was filmed without music; all you hear are the pattering of the boy's feet. We adults can learn so much from children. If only we would only take the time to watch and to listen to them!