This article was published on News-n-Views
“Criança…bambino…kind…enfant.” These words all have the exact same meaning – Child. Although the expressed language may vary, the love of a child surpasses all nations and boundaries. This Friday, April 23, at 7 p.m., O.C. Public Libraries and the city of RSM present a free screening of the acclaimed international film Children of Heaven.
Written and directed by Magid Magidi, the film tells the story of a young, Iranian brother and sister and their adventures over a lost pair of shoes. The audience is drawn into the world of Ali and his family as they struggle to reach for some of the most basic of human needs. It is a story of living in simplicity, protecting loved ones and the bond that is shared between young siblings.
Magid Magidi was born in the same city where his film takes place. He has found praise as a film director, producer and screenwriter. His first film in 1981 was a short documentary entitled Explosion (Enfejar). Since then he has made seventeen films including Children of Heaven. He continues to bring his artistic visions to life and is currently in production of his next film, Kashmir Afloat.
Children of Heaven was shot in Tehran, Iran, where the producers attempted to keep the filming a secret in order to capture a more realistic portrait of the city. The film premiered in February 1997 at the country’s Fajr Film Festival where it was honored several national film awards.
The motion picture hit U.S. theaters in January 1999 and enjoyed a box office total of $930,000. With international praise just beginning, Children of Heaven soon became a notable title worldwide due to an Oscar nomination and high profile film reviews. Roger Ebert’s review in the Chicago Sun Times called it “very nearly a perfect movie for children…and glows with a kind of good-hearted purity.”
Don’t miss this incredible film. The Show Begins at RSM Library located at 30902 La Promesa. Children of Heaven is rated PG-13 and viewing is absolutely free. For more information call 949-459-6094.
