Eluding sincerity and poignance. This rather simple movie did not disappoint.

A lot of the movies we see these days are movies with either overcomplicated plots, bland acting, or most commonly, cringy romance and their predictable storylines… *clears throat*…mostNetflixRomcomMovies…*clears throat*. Instead of watching those crappy movies that are most definitely not worth your time, I am going to recommend a movie that is just perfect and worthwhile.

In 1997, Children of Heaven came out. With the performance of many amateur actors and a relatively low budget, this movie was the first of its country (Iran) to have been nominated (and won) for Best Foreign Language Film in 1998.

It is just impossible not to like this film. It was perfect in terms of evoking warmth, sincerity, and poignance. Indeed, this movie did not disappoint. The movie starts with Ali (Amir Farrokh Hashemian) losing his sister’s only shoes, Zahra (Bahare Saddiqi), right after having it repaired. The rest of the film then unfolds as the siblings find ways to solve and cope with the situation while keeping it a secret from their parents and teachers.

The film depicts poverty in an Iranian household and how cleverness and family relationships enable one to get through such a life. The best thing in this film was undoubtedly the bond between Ali and Zahra, something I just don’t see enough in movies these days and hope to see more of. The soundtrack of this film is very minimal but very fitting. The cinematography is nothing special, understandably so with its setting and budget. There are no awkward scenes, out of place dialogue, and the acting was very amiable. All in all, it is really the film’s story and how Majidi directed the movie that made it extraordinary.

It’s an 8/10 for me!

Zeraly Saromines is an aspiring filmmaker and film critic who, through her blogs, helps viewers decide whether to watch a certain movie or show or geek out with other passionate viewers. Her opinionated blogs provide her own perspective and opinions whether it be about your favorite superhero, International shows, and Filipino rom-com and the classics — anything that movies and tv shows have to offer. However, she is especially obsessed with finding stories that hint at the harsh realities of life, explore the realms of magic and science, and those that offer new perspectives from underrepresented groups. By challenging her thoughts constantly and striving to be set apart from other critics, she writes her blogs in a much personal way that enables her to engage with her readers. In addition to this, her past experience as an international student provides different outlooks and perspectives on culture and life that again reflect on the content of her blogs.