Children of Heaven (1997)

Children of Heaven (1997) is a tender, quietly powerful drama about two young siblings in Tehran whose lives are upended when a lost pair of shoes forces them to improvise. When Ali accidentally loses his little sister Zahra’s shoes, the poor family cannot afford a replacement, so the children begin sharing Ali’s sneakers: Zahra wears them to morning school, Ali in the afternoon. What follows is a series of small adventures, misunderstandings and errands as they try to keep their secret and make the plan work. The film focuses on the daily realities and tiny urgencies of childhood—school, chores, shame, pride—and builds to a heartbreaking, suspenseful climax when Ali enters a school running race as a way to “win” new shoes. The story is simple but emotionally rich, anchored by the natural, unaffected performances of the child actors and a compassionate, humanist eye for the family’s struggles. Watching Children of Heaven you’ll experience a mix of warmth, gentle humor and real anxiety: moments of light, everyday joy sit alongside deep empathy for the children’s vulnerability. The pacing is deliberate and observational, emphasizing details of working-class life and the resourcefulness of kids. The film’s visual simplicity and quiet direction enhance its emotional clarity—small gestures and looks carry weight. Overall, Children of Heaven is an intimate, moving portrait of sibling love, dignity in the face of poverty, and childhood resilience. It invites viewers to feel for the characters, root for Ali’s risky plan, and come away with a renewed appreciation for the small things that matter.

Actors: Mohammad Amir Naji, Amir Farrokh Hashemian, Bahare Seddiqi

Director: Majid Majidi

Runtime: 89 min

Genres: Drama, Family, Sport

7.8 /10 77 /100 8.2 /10 7.9 /10