This week’s “DVD of the Week That You Never Saw Before and Can Still Order for the Weekend” is from Iran: Children of Heaven (1997).
Movies from Iran have beautiful spiritual values, none more touching than this story about a brother and sister and a lost pair of shoes. I won’t give away anything more. You’ve got to see this movie for yourself, preferably with your family or a friend, so you can share the love. Children of Heaven was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Foreign Language Film in 1998. Roger Ebert said it is “very nearly a perfect movie for children,” (one that) “lacks the cynicism and smart-mouth attitudes of so much American entertainment for kids and glows with a kind of good-hearted purity.” Vickie and I saw it by ourselves and later invited adult friends to come and join us at Cinema Leach (aka the basement) for a second showing. We told them the truth, that it was more exciting than Rocky, but they politely declined or had excuses when told it was a family film in Persian from Iran.
Vickie and I have seen about half a dozen films from Iran and are invariably moved by their spiritual values. Catholics know that spiritual truth speaks many languages and wears multicolored clothes, and we can not only learn from other traditions but find our own faith and culture enriched by them. And movie-lovers know that the best way to learn what people in another country are really like, other than visiting them yourself, is to watch a movie made by them and for them. Please give yourself a treat and rent this simple little movie about people who are your neighbors. They will expand your heart.
You might also like:
The Average Catholic and Other Religions
{ 6 comments }
This sounds wonderful and I will immediately proceed to Netflix from here.
As to the people of Iran, I love that you pull the threads of goodness through, as they are the what really weave the fabric. It is always easy to vilify and reject an objectified people, but to see individuals – and neighbors – as you so beautifully put it, is another matter.
Have you ever read any of Bruce Feiler’s books? My addled (and my sleepy 5am) brain can’t recall which one, but in one of them, he describes his time in Iran, as a Jewish man, with his wife and it was so captivating. His description of people is what came to mind as I read this post.
Hey, Fran, I’ll check him out. Have a beautiful day!
Mike,
Thanks for the recommendation. Anything that is more exciting than “Rocky” must be very exciting!
I assume you saw “Life is Beautiful” some years ago, which did receive an Academy Award. That certainly was a great values-based film too, even though it was done as a comedy.
Yeah, I loved that movie, too. If you think of any other values-based movie that few people have seen, please let me know, Bob. Thanks.
Have you seen A Rumor of Angels? Or Machuca? Those two come to mind as films you might like.
Saw Rumor. Not Machuca. Will check it out. Thanks, Fran. Sounds like you’re a Junior Roger Ebert too!