Jan 25, 2008 10:14 AM
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In todays world, we get caught up with so many things - that everything is made too complex and is a chore - even enjoyment. We want to see a movie, we have to run helter-skelter and turn cartwheels to make it happen. We want to go for a vacation - we need to take care of so many things - we need a vacation from the vacation.
And when we are faced with something simple and beautiful - we feel awed and it leaves us nostalgic and messes with our emotions - If you ever watched Ratatoullie - its a feeling that "Antwan Ego" experiences when he tastes Ratatoullie-the dish for the first time and it trans-ports him into his childhood memories. It is a feeling that we felt when we saw the plastic bag flying carefree in the wind in "American Beauty".
This - my dear friends - is the best way to sum up essence of this movie in a single paragraph. But not everyone has watched Ratatoullie or American Beauty and not everyone has to see Ratatoullie or American Beauty to know more about this movie called - Children of Heaven.
Also, the person who recommended this movie would kill me if I were to leave this movie summarized in a single paragraph. I could copy this same para multiple times and but that will get me NUed. So here I go trying to do something that I fear - trying to review something that is very simple and beautiful. Lets see if I am able to do justice to this beautiful piece of art that has been put into motion and was breathed life into by Majid-Majidi who has written and directed this Iranianmasterpiece that is 100% worthy of the Oscar nomination it got!
The movie has the feel of those 60's 70's movies made by - Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Basu chatterjee, Gulzar, etc - movies that showcased life and its simplicities. Children of Heaven is one such movie that made me think - the essence of life and childhood cannot be captured with anymore ease. and it cannot be showcased more beautifully and the movie manages to take your breath away.
The plot cannot be more mundane and real - There are 3 central characters in the movie -
1) Ali - the brother - age 13.
2) Zahra - the younger sister - age 9
3) Their dad
Ali is heading home and on his way he has to pick up his sisters shoes from the cobbler. En-route, he loses the shoes! Such a big deal for a 13 year-old! The brother and sister reach an agreement that they will share one pair of shoes between them and keep this a secret from their parents. The story is how they go about keeping this secret and yet continuing on with their respective lives. Are they successful in their ploy? find out in the movie.
Shot from a child's perspective, the movie reminds us of our own childhood. It shows the audience how to enjoy the simple things in life - it shows us how Ali and Zahra make their lives so rich in spite of not having money - their lives were so much full just because they had each other. It shows their beautiful, selfless love that is so powerful - it can move mountains. It shows how a child's mind can be enterprising with its own limitations.
Remember the time when we saw someone in school having a rubber-tipped pencil we so dearly coveted - the tug we felt within us as we plotted to take it - and yet could not take it - because our inner conscience reminded us that it is not ours and it is wrong to steal! Or how we wanted that cool cap someone else was wearing. Oh, how badly our heart desired that small object that our tummy ached. yet somehow we managed to either stifle that desire or cry ourselves to sleep.
Remember the time when promises meant the world to us and we would not break a promise that was once given to anyone. we'd rather take all the pain upon us than live with the guilt of hurting anyone. A time when - innocence and conscience were above everything else.
I will stop explaining anymore because we all know these feelings very well - we have all experienced them, we have simply forgotten them - feelings so rich, descriptions can do no justice to them. they can only be felt - I'll let Ali and Zarah remind you of these feelings and take you on a trip down memory lane when you see this movie.
kisses to Vyoma for recommending me this masterpiece!
verdict - 5/5 - nothing less
https://cinemajidi.com/children/
