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Mohammad Amir Naji, Mir Farrokh Hashemian, Bahare Seddiqi, Fereshte Sarabandi, Karnal Mirkarimi ... see more see more... , Amir Farrokh Hashemian , Nafise Jafar-Mohammadi , Kamal Mirkarimi , Behzad Rafi , Dariush Mokhtari , Mohammad-Hasan Hosseinian , Masume Dair

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 gro... read more read more...wing 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 parents will be furious when they discover the shoes have been lost, since they can't afford a new pair, so Ali gets an idea -- Zahra is scheduled to attend classes in the morning, while Ali goes to school in the afternoon. Zahra can wear Ali's sneakers to school, and she'll trade them off to Ali when he comes in for the afternoon session. They hope the scheme will work long enough to keep Zahra in school until her shoes can be found, but matters get more complicated when Ali is entered in a 4k run. Bacheha-Ye Aseman was a surprise international success, earning enthusiastic reviews around the world and winning the Grand Prix du Americas at the 1997 Montreal Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

94% liked it

11,506 ratings

Critics

81% liked it

27 critics

PG, 1 hr. 28 min.

Directed by: Majid Majidi

Release Date: January 22, 1999

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DVD Release Date: September 3, 2002

Stats: 1,109 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,109)


  • fb1216165431
    October 2, 2011
    fb1216165431
    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 responsib... read moreility. Children Of Heaven believes in the pure heart and goodness of humanity. Heavenly disarming.
  • May 21, 2010
    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 unders... read moretood 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.
  • August 11, 2009
    A young boy & his little sister are forced to make sacrifices for each other as they attempt to share an old pair of sneakers.. The Children of Heavin is a beautiful illustration of how adversity draws people closer together.
  • July 13, 2009
    A really sweet film.
    An interesting look into the lives of Iranian family of modest means and more specifically into the loving relationship between a brother and a sister.
    The two main children are a pleasure to watch and (for the most part) act in a very genuine and endearing... read more manner.
    It's a simple film, but full of emotion.
    But for the ending which (as an adult) I felt was a little sudden and abrupt, this is a great film for children and adults alike.
  • November 19, 2008
    So fantastic I don't even have enough words. I want this movie...
  • January 8, 2010
    This ones a charmer. Ali, a young boy living on the breadline with his Iranian family, accidentally loses his little sisters shoes. Now they only have one pair of sneakers between them as they try to keep attending school, keep out of trouble and keep trying to track those damn s... read morehoes down.
    Its a quiet little film, full of little events (lots of them shoe related!) and beautifully filmed. Perfect for all ages too. Get your children to watch it and they might just shut up for five minutes about "needing" the latest electronic gadget.
  • August 6, 2009
    A touching, yet simple Iranian story of a girl that loses her shoes. The selfless nature of Ali carries this somewhat lackluster film. Maybe my expectations were too high for this movie, for after seeing "The Willow Tree", Majidi's masterpiece, I was hoping this film would be com... read moreparable in quality. I was wrong, but "Children of Heaven" is still worth a recommendation.
  • March 13, 2009
    Here's a brilliant movie by Majid Majidi. The story plot centralizes around a young boy named Ali, who loses his sister Zahra's shoes while doing some shopping. He tries desperately to find it but to no avail, he goes home empty-handed. He decides to share his pair of sneakers wi... read moreth her, and trade on and off each day for school. Amir Farrokh Hashemian and Bahare Seddiqi stars. Worth seeing!
  • March 12, 2009
    Two fearful children (Amir Farrokh Hashemian, Bahare Sediqi) look for a pair of missing shoes, then try to get another pair before their parents discover the loss. Zahra's shoes are lost; her older brother Ali lost them. They are poor, there are no shoes for Zahra until they come... read more up with an idea: they will share one pair of shoes,
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    The two young actors are amazing,they play their sensitivity very convincing. Ali, the 9 year old brother, who really carried the film through, and the younger sister Zahra, who contributed her restrained share of screen presence. The pair is so natural: those innocent faces, the range of sad faces the two came up with! The bond between the brother and sister is so warm and joyful.

    The storyline is simple. Such a good writer-director Majid Majidi is, I did not know him before this, but to come up with such a lovely story, I have no words for this. He can make chasing along a streaming gutter into an intense dramatic episode. And he doesn't have to tell it all on the screen, the little nuances and observations are enough.

    It's heartening to see young children who are polite and respectful to their parents, responsible and caring in dealing with their everyday problems, and not giving up. Such quiet attitude, in spite of disappointments, such tolerance of their circumstance yet still able to find joy in little things. We catch a smile here and there, when they enjoy the soap bubbles, or when he encouraged his sister by giving her small gifts.

    This is an absolute jewel of a family film. Children's emotions, adults are not left out, the parents, the elderly couple next door, the shop-owners, all made this movie very real.

    What impressed me so much is the dialogue, which was complete in Farsi, it's sounds so beautiful, I had English subtitles, but still it sounds so melodious in my ears.
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  • October 25, 2008
    A cute movie about a brother helping out his sister after he loses her shoes by mistake, and they try to cover from their parents, by working out their own solution.

Critic Reviews


Brian Costello
May 4, 2012
Brian Costello, Common Sense Media

Excellent subtitled Iranian coming-of-age story. Full Review

Sean Axmaker
April 30, 2007
Sean Axmaker, Seattle Weekly

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

Maria Garcia
January 8, 2007
Maria Garcia, Film Journal International

A truly revolutionary film. Full Review

Michael Dequina
December 8, 2004
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

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

Brian Gibson
December 1, 2003
Brian Gibson, Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)

Iranian social realism with runaway charm

Shannon J. Harvey
February 10, 2003
Shannon J. Harvey, Sunday Times (Australia)

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.

John A. Nesbit
September 10, 2002
John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews

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

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
March 4, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

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

Ross Anthony
January 1, 2000
Ross Anthony, Hollywood Report Card

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

Dennis Schwartz
January 1, 2000
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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