SUN CHILDREN

Iran, 2020, 99 minutes, Colour.

Rouhollah Zamani, Javid Shirzad.

Directed by Maj.id Majidi.

Writer-director, Majid Majidi, began making films in the 1990s, two of his early films focusing on children, Children of Heaven, Colour of Paradise. He has continued making striking films, visually, thematically, award-winning.

In this film he returns to the theme of children, the streets of Tehran. The film opens with views of cars, the streets, the affluent aspects of the city. But, the focus is on the children, difficult home lives, violence, addictions. The central character is Ali, the young boy, with his gang. They commit petty crimes, influenced by adult gangsters.

But, they also go to a school for delinquent children, somewhat rebellious, hearing that there is treasure under the school and taking time out during breaks to start digging. There are frustrations for the school principal and the teachers.

While the film dramatically portrays the children, their activities, the relationships with adults, good and bad, with Majidi’s films there is always some kind of hope, some kind of redemption.

1. The title, the focus on the children, their harsh lives, possibilities for betterment?
2. The work of the director, his reputation, awards, his films focusing on children in Iran? The 1990s to the 2020s?
3. Tehran settings, the streets, the neighbourhoods, poverty, crime, schools, the alleged treasure under the school, the digging? The authorities? The musical score?
4. The opening, the collage of perspectives, the cars, the children, affluence, creating an atmosphere?
5. Ali, age, background, his friends, the gang? Their activities? The authorities?
6. The background of the school, the principal, the teachers, the difficulties, the children at school, their backgrounds, poverty, violence?
7. Ali and his friends at school, classes, out of class? The teachers?
8. The story of the treasure under the school, the group beginning to dig, during the free periods, a futile quest?
9. The gangster types, the influence on the children, the pressures?
10. Possibilities for hope, for some kind of redemption?