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Movies / On DVD / Children of Heaven
Children of Heaven

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Children of Heaven (1997)

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88 %
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Reviews Counted: 24

Fresh: 21

Rotten:3

Average Rating: 7.8/10

Runtime: 88 mins

Genre: Foreign Films

Synopsis: In this simple family drama from Iran, two children invent an intricate plan to conceal the loss of a pair of shoes. Ali (Amir Farrokh Hashemian) and his sister Zhara (Bahare Seddiqi) are living in... In this simple family drama from Iran, two children invent an intricate plan to conceal the loss of a pair of shoes. Ali (Amir Farrokh Hashemian) and his sister Zhara (Bahare Seddiqi) are living in a poor neighborhood. Their mother is suffering from illness and their father is overworked and underpaid. When Ali is sent out to pick up his sister's shoes, a blind street peddler accidentally swipes them. Afraid that he will get a beating if his parents find out, he and Zhara concoct a plan by which she will wear Ali's sneakers to school in the morning and he will wear them to school in the afternoon. But the plan has its flaws because Ali is late to school everyday and his principal threatens to expel him. In a final act of determination, Ali enters a race to win the third place prize, a new pair of sneakers. Majidi's acclaimed film is an example of a current trend in Iranian cinema where children are used as central characters in order to circumvent censorship issues. His later film THE COLOR OF PARADISE about a little blind boy received similar international critical attention. CHILDREN OF HEAVEN received an Academy Award Nomination in 1998 for Best Foreign Film. [More]

Starring: Amir Farrokh Hashemian, Bahare Seddiqi, Mohammad Amir Naji, Fereshte Sarabandi

Starring: Amir Farrokh Hashemian, Bahare Seddiqi, Mohammad Amir Naji, Fereshte Sarabandi

Director: Majid Majidi

Director: Majid Majidi
Producer: Amir Esfandiari, Mohammad Esfandiari

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Sep 3, 2002

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • Children Of Heaven
  • Triumphant prizewinner at many prestigious film festivals, this uplifting, crowd-pleasing story of family and love was also nominated for an Academy Award(R) as Best Foreign Language Film. When Ali loses his sister Zahra's school shoes, this young pair dream up a plan to stay out of trouble: they'll share his shoes and keep it a secret from their parents! But if they're going to sucessfully cover their tracks, Ali and Zahra must carefully watch their step on what rapidly turns into a funny and heartwarming adventure! A magical motion picture acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, CHILDREN OF HEAVEN is a charming treat you'll love too.
  • Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment.
  •  
     
     
     

    Reviews for Children of Heaven

    • T-Meter Critics
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    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
    08/07/08
    Mark Halverson
    Sacramento News & Review
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
    06/24/08
    Time Out
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Majidi... captures the immediacy and essence of kids: proud, emotional, spirited, and disarmingly sincere.

    Full Review Source: Seattle Weekly | comment Comment
    04/30/07
    Sean Axmaker
    Seattle Weekly

    A truly revolutionary film.

    Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
    01/08/07
    Maria Garcia
    Film Journal International
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
    05/26/06
    Jeffrey M. Anderson
    Combustible Celluloid
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
    07/21/05
    Houston Chronicle
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    06/26/05
    Emanuel Levy
    EmanuelLevy.Com
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
    04/09/05
    Robin Clifford
    Reeling Reviews

    Proof that it doesn't take an elaborate story to make a terrific film.

    Full Review Source: Mr. Brown's Movies | comment Comment
    12/08/04
    Michael Dequina
    Mr. Brown's Movies
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Movie Gurus | comment Comment
    03/16/04
    James O'Ehley
    Movie Gurus

    Iranian social realism with runaway charm

    comment Comment
    12/01/03
    Brian Gibson
    Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    10/27/03
    James O'Ehley
    Sci-Fi Movie Page

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
    07/30/03
    TV Guide's Movie Guide
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    07/06/03
    Laura Clifford
    Reeling Reviews

    One of the most gentle social commentaries you are ever likely to see, with heartwrenching performances from two young (non-actor) children. This will melt your heart.

    comment Comment
    02/10/03
    Shannon J. Harvey
    Sunday Times (Australia)

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Nick's Flick Picks | comment Comment
    01/10/03
    Nick Davis
    Nick's Flick Picks

    Children of Heaven serves as a heart warming meditation about real goodness in humanity

    Full Review Source: Old School Reviews | comment Comment
    09/10/02
    John A. Nesbit
    Old School Reviews
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
    06/05/02
    Shlomo Schwartzberg
    Boxoffice Magazine

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | comment Comment
    03/19/02
    Globe and Mail
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    This bright jewel of a film is a cross-cultural masterpiece that touches the heart.

    Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
    03/04/02
    Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
    Spirituality and Practice
     
     
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    Latest News for Children of Heaven

    February 26, 2004: Affluent Westerners renting this movie at their local Blockbusters may not exactly identify with the concept of being too poor to buy a new pair of shoes . . . Opens in new window
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