SON OF MARYAM

Iran, 1999, 70 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Hamid Jebelli.

Son of Maryam is a charming film. It is also an interesting film in visualising relationships between Muslims and Catholics in north-western Iran. The film focuses on a young boy, Rahman, a milk delivery boy. He is also the prayer chanter at the village mosque. His mother died when he was born and he is a good friend of Davud, a blind boy. He visits the church and becomes friendly with the old Catholic priest. When the priest has an accident, Rahman helps him, looks after him for food and medicine, and has a mission to contact the priest's brother, another priest in a neighbouring city. This involves an adventure in going to the city to search out the priest. On his return, the old priest dies. However, Rahman and Davud have looked after the church and the cross has been placed on the spire.

1. An entertaining children's film? Iranian children? The Muslim and Catholic backgrounds and the bonds between the two?

2. The village setting, the homes, the mosque, the church? The surrounding hills? The contrast with the city and its buildings and churches and parks? The musical score?

3. The focus on Rahman, his age, his grandmother and father, the death of his mother and his feeling her absence? His friendship with the blind Davud? Delivering the milk, the neighbour and the little girl? His work at the mosque, learning, leading the chant? His friendship with the priest, their discussions, the fact that the priest knew Rahman's mother, saying that she was like the statue of the Blessed Virgin? Rahman's mother's name also being Maryam? The growing friendship, the discussions, the photos, the holy card? Rahman and his going back to the church? The Muslim leader and his encouragement? His father going to the neighbouring town to work? The neighbour with the baby child? Life in the village?

4. The character of the priest, a native of the town, the few Catholics, the photos on the world with the old community, people moving away? The priest as the caretaker of the church? The visualising of the church, the Stations of the Cross (and Rahman explaining them to Davud)? The statuary in the church? The coming feast, the digging of the well, Rahman and Davud helping? The priest and his accident, Rahman helping him, the medication, trying to telephone for the brother, the wrong number? Trying to get the neighbour to drive the priest back? The car breaking down? His decision to go to the city, hitchhiking, looking for the churches, the people helping, going to the markets and buying the gifts? The church, the young boy and his mother, going to their house? Going to the church for the wedding, finding Father George? The friendship with the boy in the town? Bringing him back? The old priest and his dying? The sequence of Rahman's nightmare where the priest had died and he had spilt all the milk? The priest giving him his cross, sending him the picture, the card and a token of his friendship? The effect of this experience on Rahman?

5. Davud, listening to the radio, blind, friendship with Rahman, going to the church, helping him?

6. The presentation of the daily life of Islam, prayer, the chant, the mosque, studies? The leader and his genial attitude towards the priest, going to visit him, making sure that Rahman looked after him?

7. The supporting characters in the town giving a flavour to the film: the father, the man with the baby whose wife had died, the grandmother? The neighbours?

8. A significant film in showing the possibilities of friendship and collaboration between members of two diverse but world religions?