The Color of Paradise 1999

     Mohammad is a young blind boy studying at Tehran’s Institute for the Blind.  All the students are going to their family homes for the three-month summer vacation.  Mohammad’s father Hosein Mahjoub is late arriving to pick up Mohammad.  Hosien finally shows up and he asks the teachers if Mohammad can stay at the school during the break?  They explain that the school will be closed and there will be no one left behind during the three months.  Hosien is ashamed that his son is blind.  He also wants to farm the boy out to clear the way for a new marriage since his wife has passed away.  The intended bride doesn’t know anything about Mohammad.  There is a blind carpenter living far away from their village and Hosien wants Mohammad to go to live there for training as an apprentice.  Mohammad’s grandmother objects to this plan but Hosein won’t listen. 

     Mohammad has been taught many skills at the school.  While he is waiting for his father, he climbs a tree to return a fallen baby bird to the nest.  He loves nature, he wants to be loved by his father and live in the village with his family.  Mohammad heartrendingly cries during a teaching session with the carpenter.  Hosein can’t see the special qualities of Mohammad because he can only see the burdens?  3 ½* (I liked this movie)   

90 min, Drama directed by Majid Majidi with Hossein Mahjoub, Mohsen Ramezani, Salamech Feyzi, Farahnaz Safari, Elham Sharifi, Behazad Rafi, Mohamad Rahmani, Mrteza Fatemi, Kamal Mirkarimi, Morteza Fatemi.

Note:  Imdb 8.2 out of 10, 87% critic 96% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3 ½*, Amazon 4.6* out of 5* with 116 reviews, Metacritic 80 out of 10 with 25 critics 8.3 out of 10 user reviews with 21 ratings, Empire Online 4* out of 5*.

Special Note:  Filmed in Iran.  Director Majidi’s original title for this film was translated Color of God.  Mohsen Ramezani in the role of Mohammad is blind. Selected by Time Magazine as one of the ten best movies of 2000.  The 4^th feature film directed by Majid Majidi and the 1^st Iranian film to be nominated for an American Academy Award.