Real Reels: Majid Majidi

In world cinema, films from Iran are in the forefront.
In the 1979 Islamic revolution, the resulting upheavals totally shattered the growth of Iranian cinema.
More than 200 films were banned.

Only after 1987, Iranian films started to slowly breathe again. The cultural department introduced several measures to support film making. In light of this freedom, directors like Masood Kimiai, Nasser Refaie and Abbas Kiarostami made world class films. After this, many young directors made their entry into Iranian cinema.

One of the prominent directors is Majid Majidi. In the 1980s, Iranian films won more than 80 awards worldwide. In 2000, the figure rose to 118. To understand the development and importance of Iranian films, here are some important facts. 'Children of Heaven' directed by Majid Majidi won attention worldwide in 1997. The vibration created by this film lasted more than 3 days, says cinematographer/director P C Sriram. For director Balu Mahendra, 'Children of Heaven' is one among his 10 favorite films. This film won 4 awards at the 1997 film festival in Montreal.

This film that charmed film lovers worldwide is about a little boy and his sister. The little boy Ali gets his sister Zara's torn shoes mended and returns home. On the way, he stops at a grocery shop to pick up something for his sick mom and puts down the shoe parcel near a can of trash. A garbage collector passing by picks up the trash papers and also the shoe packet and moves on.

When Ali finds the shoe missing, he searches frantically, then goes home in tears - they can't afford a new pair because they are poor. The mother is a sickly lady and the father does not have a steady job. They even owe the landlord 5 months rent. When Zara asks him about her shoes, he tells her and they exchange notes (when doing home work) on what to do as Zara had no shoes to wear to school. Zara has morning school and Ali has evening school. To escape the father's wrath, they come to a solution.

Zara wears Ali's one size bigger joggers to school. As soon as the bell rings, she runs all the way home through short cut streets. Ali waits at a point, where he hurriedly gives her slippers and wears his shoes and runs to his school. He is invariably late on most days. This goes on for a while. One day one shoe falls off as Zara is running and falls into the gutter stream. She runs and retrieves it. Zara looks yearningly

at the shining footwear of other children. Ali gets late for school a few times and the head master reprimands him.

He somehow finds excuses. On one occasion, he is asked to bring someone from his home, but his class master manages to get Ali off the hook. Following this, Zara finds one of the girls in her school wearing her lost shoes. With her brother, she follows the girl and finds out where she lives. On learning that the girl's father is blind, Ali and Zara return home quietly.

Ali sees a notice about a 4km inter-school running race and the 3rd price is a pair of jogging shoes! He plans to participate and win the shoes for his sister. He misses the heats, begs his teacher and manages to take part in the race where hundreds of kids run. Ali maintains being 3rd!! A kid pushes him a few metres before finishing line. He gets so mad, he speeds up and runs like crazy and finishes first! His dream of winning the shoes for Zara is shattered.

He looks dejected when photos are taken of him winning the race. When he comes home, Zara gives him a hopeful look. But he sits dejected by the small water fountain in front of his house. Zara runs into the house crying. Ali's own shoes are in tatters and he quietly removes them, resting his blistered feet in the cooling water. The film ends with his dad coming home on his bicycle with 2 new pairs of shoes!! Such a simple story told in such a charming way.

No wonder 'Children of Heaven' has charmed one and all. The innocence of childhood, the little gestures of affection, the human nature of the characters make this film a must see for all ages and is valid any time it is seen. It is usual for directors to show children being ill treated to gain audience sympathy. In contrast, the characters around the children in this film are shown as children fri

endly and not against children. The children are also not put to great difficulty.

Before Ali meets his sister after the race, his father is seen shopping for shoes. Even then, one feels a wave of sympathy for the children. It is thanks to the way Majid Majidi has evolved the story line. For those who wish to make good cinema and for those who wish to see good cinema, 'Children of Heaven' is not to be missed!

Some films by Majid Majidi: