After a boy loses his sister's pair of shoes, he goes on a series of adventures in order to find them. When he can't, he tries a new way to "win" a new pair.After a boy loses his sister's pair of shoes, he goes on a series of adventures in order to find them. When he can't, he tries a new way to "win" a new pair.After a boy loses his sister's pair of shoes, he goes on a series of adventures in order to find them. When he can't, he tries a new way to "win" a new pair.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 17 wins & 5 nominations total
- Ali's Father (Pedar-e Ali)
- (as Amir Naji)
- Ali
- (as Mir Farrokh Hashemian)
- Assistant (Nazem)
- (as Kamal Mir Karimi)
- Trainer (Moalem-e Varzesh)
- (as Behzad Rafiee)
- Mosque Servant
- (as Mohammad Haj-Hosseini)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFirst Iranian film to receive nomination for an Academy Award (Best Foreign Language Film of the Year).
- GoofsWhen Ali and Zahra are meeting to swap shoes in the rain, we follow Zahra running through the soaking streets. When it cuts to the alley where the swap takes place, the ground is completely dry. After they split, we follow them running through a street which is watered down.
- Quotes
Ali: Zahra, I have good news.
Zahra: What news?
Ali: I am selected for the race.
Zahra: What race?
Ali: Long-Distance Running. The third-best runner gets a pair of new sneakers.
Zahra: Why the third?
Ali: The First and Second prizes are something else. If I come in third, I'll give you the sneakers.
Zahra: But those shoes are for boys.
Ali: I'll exchange them. I'll get a pair of girl's shoes for you.
Zahra: What if you don't come in third?
Ali: I'll be third for sure.
The two young actors are amazing -- they play their guileless naïve sensitivity with such earnestness! Central character, Ali, the 9 year old brother, is Mir Farrokh Hashemian, who really carried the film with his legwork, and the younger sister Zahra is Bahareh Seddiqui, who contributed her restrained share of screen presence. The pair is so natural: those furrowed faces, anxious knitted brows -- the range of sad faces the two came up with! The bond between the brother and sister is so warm and joyful - in spite of misfortunes.
The storyline is seemingly simple. Such story-weaving knack writer-director Majid Majidi has -- he can make chasing along a streaming gutter into an intense dramatic episode! The story has the texture likened to a Thomas Hardy novel (poverty setting, episode after episode, turn of events), yet such a relishingly simple delivery. He doesn't have to tell it all on the screen -- little nuances and observations suffice.
It's heartening to see young children who are polite and respectful to their elders, responsible and caring in dealing with their everyday problems, and not give up -- such quiet fortitude in spite of disappointments, such tolerance of their circumstance yet still able to find joy in little things. We catch a smile here and there, e.g., when they enjoy the impromptu soap bubbles, or when he encouraged his sister by giving her small tokens.
This is an absolute gem of a family (value) film. Children's emotions untapped, yet adults are not left out -- touches of grown-up connections: the parents, the elderly couple next door, the shop-owners, all made this world very real.
The camerawork, and the well-designed use of sound mixed with accompanying music (different tonal quality instruments were applied) complemented this cinematic experience. A poetic ending -- there's a serenity about it all.
I hope "Children of Heaven" will win this year's 71st Academy Award Best Foreign Film Oscar -- it will receive its due exposure and more people will experience this gem.
Along the lines of poverty and shoes, I thought of the Italian 1978's "The Tree of the Wooden Clogs" by writer-director Ermanno Olmi. And, on a story with substance and good acting by an Iranian young boy, there's 1989's "Bashu, The Little Stranger", by writer-director Bahram Beizai. Both are movies to be appreciated.
- How long is Children of Heaven?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $180,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $933,933
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $20,100
- Jan 24, 1999
- Gross worldwide
- $933,933