Children of Heaven

Children of Heaven is an Iranian film created in 1997, directed by Majid Majidi. It is about a brother Ali, and a sister, Zhara, from a lower class family who try to hide from their parents that Ali, has lost Zhara's shoes. He took them to get fixed and set them down to buy groceries and someone picked them up. They hide this by sharing Ali's shoes everyday for school.

This film proves that somewhere in the world brothers and sisters still love each other, make sacrifices for each other, and for the most part, get along. I find it humbling that these siblings, at such a young age can cooperate with each other and join forces to save one from getting a beating from the parents. Television and films in America in this day in age feature siblings who constantly bicker and plot against each other trying to get the other in trouble with the parents. It was refreshing to see this kids, so young, loving each other and trying hard to not get either of them in trouble. This film helped-for me-restore the innocence of childhood.

Besides showing a loving relationship between a brother and sister this film also gives us a glimpse inside poor living conditions in Iran. We see how difficult it is to live on such a low income. So not only is it humbling to see how well these children get along and treat each other at such a young age but also how this family lives on such a low income. These children do not have much at all but they don't complain like children in America. Their main priorities are their chores and keeping each other out of trouble. American kids could learn a thing or two from these kids.