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Children of Heaven (Bacheha-Ye aseman)

Children of Heaven (Bacheha-Ye aseman) (1997)

tomatometer

67

Average Rating: 7/10
Critic Reviews: 6
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 2

No consensus yet.

audience

94

liked it
Average Rating: 4.4/5
User Ratings: 11,816

My Rating

Movie Info

Two children concoct an elaborate scheme to cover up the loss of a pair of shoes in this family drama from Iran. Ali (Mohammad Amir Naji) and Zahra (Mir Farrokh Hashemian) are a brother and sister growing up in a poor neighborhood. Ali is given the responsibility of picking up Zahra's shoes from the repair shop, since she needs them to attend school. Ali makes the mistake of setting them down outside a market, and moments later they're swiped by a beggar. Ali and Zahra are convinced that their

Sep 3, 2002

Miramax

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All Critics (45) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (23) | Rotten (5) | DVD (2)

...Majidi and his young actors invest it with such basic truth about the inner lives of children that the movie feels as big as the universe.

June 16, 2012 Full Review Source: LarsenOnFilm
LarsenOnFilm

Excellent subtitled Iranian coming-of-age story.

May 4, 2012 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media

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

April 30, 2007 Full Review Source: Seattle Weekly
Seattle Weekly

A truly revolutionary film.

January 8, 2007 Full Review Source: Film Journal International
Film Journal International

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

December 8, 2004 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com
TheMovieReport.com

Iranian social realism with runaway charm

December 1, 2003
Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)

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.

February 10, 2003
Sunday Times (Australia)

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

September 10, 2002 Full Review Source: Old School Reviews

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

March 4, 2002 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice
Spirituality and Practice

a sweet film about a boy, his sister and shoes. ** Interview **

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Hollywood Report Card
Hollywood Report Card

The result is a perfectly safe film for living in a totalitarian country.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comments (2)
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Audience Reviews for Children of Heaven (Bacheha-Ye aseman)

Benevolent and powerful, The Children Of Heaven follows a brother and a sister of a destitute family in Iran whose relationship is challenged by a lost pair of shoes. Beautiful and sincere, Children Of Heaven is of compassion and determination with a heightened sense of responsibility. Children Of Heaven believes in the pure heart and goodness of humanity. Heavenly disarming.
October 2, 2011
Jan Marc Macababayao

Super Reviewer

Nice overall, except for the abrupt ending. The director does give us hints which can be easily interpreted, but I'd have preferred it elaborated. I mean, when they didn't mind giving us half to one minute shots of kids running at various points (which we could have easily understood even if it was relatively lesser in duration & number of times it is repeated) why leave out ending to piece it out by ourselves??? It'd have been better to see the kids' reactions to what is rather left to our imagination. But do check it out for what it is otherwise: a sweet tale with amazing performances by the kids.
May 21, 2010
imrealgod

Super Reviewer

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Foreign Titles

  • Kinder des Himmels (DE)
  • The Children of Heaven (Bacheha-Ye aseman) (UK)
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