User reviews

I urge you to try to see this movie. The acting is brilliant but totally natural. I don't recall ever seeing a child who is as fine an actor as the boy who played Mohammed, and not for a moment did his "acting" ever get in the way of the story. The cinematography is breath-taking. I'm sure no one who has not been to Iran has any idea at all that it is this beautiful. There is plenty of symbolism for any particular point of view, which makes it fun to talk about after you see it, and although it is probably intended to be religious from the Islam point of view, you could probably find in this movie your own brand of spirituality, or lack of it, if you cared to try. I, a typically cynical and jaded New Yorker, and my completely enthusiastic and non-jaded adolescent daughter, both loved it and hope to see it again. So go see it and make it a success so we can get more movies like it over here!!

This film is one of the few films that can really touch everyone -- from the beginning to the end this movie gripped me, and made me sympathize with the main character on large levels. And not only was the film complete in its' development of the main character but it seems that each and every character that appear in this film are incredibly human and can be related to.

The story alone is touching, and with the great work done in the filming and great acting performances, this is one of the films that will really stay with me. As far as films go, this is a must see for anyone and everyone -- a film that unfolds a sad, human story as well as a great hope for the future all at the same time.

Although I've always known that the film is one of the strongest mediums of art, but I've never been deeply satisfied with any of the films I have ever watched. I've watched Bergman, I've watched Kurosawa. And they are really good. But still, for so long I have been waiting for a film that is truly satisfying to me with its touching sensitivity and deep insight. Finally I have found this film: The Color of Paradise (In fact, the original name is Rang-e-Khoda, The Color of God). A lot of symbols have been used masterfully and with simplicity, the outer has subtly expressed the inner and a profound truth has been depicted so artistically and heartily. The scenarios are very beautiful and the story seems so natural. I am deeply touched. And I am sure, this film will satisfy your heart and head at the same time.

This is the first Iranin film I have ever watched and I have made it a project of mine to watch many more. This movie is so sweet and loving, but most of all it is honest. Unlike American films, Iranian films seem to be very open and even brutally honest about thier pain and frustration. Maybe it's because for many thier situations are so dire and we in America are so jaded by therapy and talk show catch phrases to just open op and fully express how we feel. The pain that Muhammed and his family felt came accross as very real and genuine. The art direction was beautiful, I had no idea that Iran was such a beautiful place. It was so ironic that the best part of his home was the part that poor Muhammed could not see but he felt it deeply. I would strongly suggest that you watch this movie. Even if your not into subtitles. My boyfriend and I came accross this movie at 2AM one night and had no intention of watching it, but after the first ten minutes we were hooked and talked about it for days. It is magnificent.

I've personally viewed over three thousand films. For many years, "Les Miserables" (French) with Jean-Paul Belmondo was my highest recommendation. "The Bridge" (German) was equally haunting. But having discovered "Color of Paradise" (I watched it every night for five nights)I bought the DVD. I don't imagine that I will ever see a more emotionally invasive film. I've joined IMDb simply to enjoin others who loved this film. For some months, I've been trying to find the words to help organize my impressions. Where other senses may become more acute with the loss of one, perhaps the congenitally blind don't realize how emotionally transparent they are. For me, this film really struck a nerve. It is a story-journey into the world in which we live but don't often see. It left me wondering who, in this world, are actually blind? This child, his grandma and two little sisters, are consummate. I must remind myself they were only acting. I must picture set, sound, lighting, script, direction etc. to decern that this is "only a movie". For everything this little boy appeared to need, he found ways to give real treasures to everything around him. The sound and cinematography were excellent. The pointed themes of this film were were heart rending. Six months later, they remain so.

This is one of the most, if not the most, moving film you may ever see. The story of Mohammed will break your heart. At many points in the film even the most restrained viewer will find themselves in tears. Mohammed's hope, determination and good nature will inspire you and teach you lessons about how you face your own life. The happier scenes in the film, such as when Mohammed is playing with his sisters or spending time with his beloved grandmother, will touch you. Prepare for the ending of this film, as it will move you to tears.

I am awestruck by the simple elegance of this movie. In one movie Majid Majidi has elaborated on so many themes (life of a gifted blind child, love of granny, the journey of Mohammad's father etc.)that its flabbergasting.

I had previously seen The Children of Heaven, and had developed respect for Majid Majidi. But this movie is on a different level. The mystic messages are too many for so short a movie. The sound of nature is enhanced as to give the perspective of a blind child, who care too much about nature then those with sight (he didn't have sight but he had insight into the beauty of life and nature). The discerning ability of the child is portrayed as he loves nature and can tell that the hands of his granny are "pure white".

There are some other situations which are telling like when the granny leaves her son's home as protest, rescues a fish (metaphorically: his son), puts it into a small pond (this world), but at the same time loses the gift (metaphorically: loses Muhammad) which Muhammad gave her.

The sounds of the beast, that the father hears, are also ominous and can be interpreted as the moan of conscience. i.e. his father is innately a good man and has a potential for seeing the world as it needs to be seen.

Another beautiful film from Director Majid Majidi. His movies always oozes with such human elements that it's hard to not like them. Few of the themes explored in the movie may have religious undertones, but it's about nature and God in quite a general way, rather than preaching a particular view. The movie is deliberately simplistic in nature, but quite charming and delightful at the same time.

The sequence in the beginning where the blind boy rescues a baby bird, climbs the tree and puts it back in the nest is an amazing scene, and says so much about the character in such a short instant. All the characters in the movie are interesting; there are mainly three - the blind boy (Mohammad), his father, and his grandma.

What might be a burden for someone may be a blessing for someone else. Life is what we make of it. Who is the one actually blind, the boy or the people around him? What do we actually see around us? The absence of one sense makes the other senses so acute. The boy was much more attuned to his surrounding environment than anyone else.

There's no actual background music used in the movie, but it utilizes the sounds of nature to tell about the environment, which is even more effective.

The ending feels a little contrived, but it's upto satisfaction. The last shot of the boy still trying to read the sound of birds, as if in braille, in search of God or Paradise says a thousand words.

I had a personal reaction to this film. My little brother was handicapped. Thus I grew up with bunch of kids who had various problems, and one girl was blind. What made me ache the most was how desperately he was trying to live. He really tried his best to live his life to the fullest despite all his problems. People like us who don't have problems seldom try this hard.

Now about the way the film was made. It was refreshing to see something this simple. No special effect or anything of that sort. Just the people and the landscape. All breathtaking. This is so worth whatever they are charging you at your local theatre (I paid CAN$6). You must go see this, and remember the value of life and how lucky you are.

After watching this movie (as I almost always watch the movie first, before viewing comments), I did not expect to find any negative comments, but I did find one. I would like to address that comment, as almost any other I would have, has already been declared!

Said: "fairy tale": Is it a fairy tale that a blind person could do the things that were performed by the blind people in this movie??? Climbing a tree? Is that unthinkable?

Said: "brainwashes": Only a GOOD director could do that! True is your point about women being free to do what they will, but I can't believe that the movie "BRAINWASHES"!

Said: "waste of time": How can any movie be a waste of time?! Everyone is different and you can not sum up a movie like that.

My opinion: This movie is a tear jerker, that is sometimes slow, but rewarding. I think it is a fantastic tool to show children (AND ADULTS!), that just because a person does not have the ability to do the things most other do, it does not mean that they are hopeless in being an instrument in life!

'The Colour of Paradise' is a fascinating look at life in rural Iran, as "seen" through the eyes of a young blind boy. In the west, the cultural gap between the city and the country has grown small; but this film, which starts in a Teheran that could be London, before moving to the country, shows how different the two can be. The film begins slowly and isn't the slickest movie ever made, but the're's a sense of truth in its portrayal of the world, and its emotional power grows while you watch the story of a man, the boy's father, who through self-pity has lost the capacity to love. Throughout, the natural world is beautifully and creatively shot, although the symbolism is sometimes obvious (shaded of Terrence Mallick, perhaps?). An interesting and understated movie.

This movie was not my favorite. It was quite boring through much of the film. It combined sadness and sympathy with anger and a feeling of "what was that all about?".

I thought this film had a good beginning and made me quite interested with the future of this lovable blind boy, but his father killed the film with his unsympathetic, selfish behavior. The film was inspiring and informative with Afghanistani behaviors and culture, but the ending could have done a little better. The movie suddenly ends leaving the viewer wondering what in the world just happened and I thought could have been approached differently.

If you are in to films about different cultures, and you like to be disappointed with character flaws, this is your movie. While the movie was very well done of showing the surroundings through the "eyes" of the blind boy, it disappointed me with its ending.

Mohammad is a young blind boy getting his education in Tehran's institute for the blind. With only a father and a grandmother left in his family, he looks forward to summer with them once school has finished. Mohammad is full of life even though he cannot see and is constantly exploring with his hands and his grandmother loves him for this. His father is a different story and wants Mohammad out of the way so that he can remarry in an arranged ceremony with a woman who doesn't know about his son. However his plan to send Mohammad far away on an apprenticeship brings him directly into conflict with his son's grandmother.

A popular choice for the Oscars in 2000, this film has developed this success and has garnered quite an audience as a result. The story is quite an emotionally involving one that is better than the basic description of the narrative suggests because this is driven by our sympathy/empathy for the characters involved. As such it works pretty well as it is easy to relate to the emotions of all of the lead three characters – even the bitterness of the father was something that could be understood and felt for, at no point was he simply a bad guy for feeling what he did. At times the story gets a bit too steeped in meaningful sentiment but for the majority it is a well observed and patient story that is quite touching at points.

The acting is a big factor in this working as well as it did. Ramezani is the most obvious one to praise and indeed he is praiseworthy for making his character real and convincing while never letting it become a "cute kid part" as so many brats can't help but do – he may have been drawing on things within himself but this is still a very real performance. Mahjoub is as good for the very reason that he keeps us caring about his character even if what he is feeling is not anything we can condone. Feizi's grandmother is an unremarkable character but she delivers it well with a solid, if unimaginative, portrayal and performance. The support cast are also strong but it was the lead three that made it what it was. The direction is good, sharing an eye for detail and little daily realities with a talent for the bigger landscapes.

Overall this is an impressive and enjoyable film that is beautiful to look at and has plenty to engage the heart. It may be a bit "up itself" at a few points but these are few and far between and the majority of the film succeeds thanks to well written characters and actors who deliver with an apparent good understanding of their characters.

its as if the director was writing a song with the colors of nature to describe the innocence and purity of the blind child. the child that feels rejected by his beloved family, finds his peace and identification with nature. but such a pure, innocent leaving being can not exist in this evil world, so he must die, putting his trust in his weak betraying father to the last moment...

If there were a cinema course focusing on disabilities, then Majid Majidi's "Rang-e khoda" ("The Color of Paradise" in English) would have to get included. It deserves extra credit for casting an actual blind person in the role. This story of a blind boy and his relationship with his father and grandmother hits all the right notes. Neither the relationships nor the conversations ever look forced, it's all very natural. I've liked every Iranian movie that I've seen. Definitely watch it.

The Color of Paradise is a very beautiful and moving film. It's about a blind boy and his blind-hearted father. I have always felt that my sense of sight would be the most difficult to lose. I learned a new perspective from this film, the boy saw so much more than his father did. It was also fascinating to see how beautiful Iran is. I feel quite fortunate to have seen this film, it gave me a deeper understanding of myself.

an enchanting mixture of emotions, beauty, nature and vulnerability of a blind boy with beautiful soul. to make such master piece a director has to imagine every single scene prior to film it and that's what make a movie director a great one, majid majidi surely did that and every single scene was perfect. i am becoming a big fan of iranian movies and TV series specially based on historical figures like Marry or prophet Joseph.

i wonder if anyone can hold their tears after watching that scene where boy is talking to that guy in wood workshop. that scene really melts your heart and you literally pray that pain of this blind boy goes away. loved the ending scene where father finally realize that he has to keep his son with him because he loved him.

Tragedy and life's vicissitudes weight heavily on a laborer with a blind son in this plaintive tale from Iran. A lovely, simple, and heartfelt tale, "The Color of Paradise" is typically Iranian in its telling of a father who wrestles with his conscience as he begins to see his son as a burden interfering with his happiness and success. Hollywood blockbuster audiences will likely find this simple film just so much underdone sentimentalism. Film purists and those undaunted by cultural differences will appreciate the pastoral and lyrical beauty of this film most. (B)

A most see movie. Lots of tissue is required for this real tear jerker. The director does not over play the pathos but it is there. The acting is so real that you think they are not actors but that the events are actually happening. This helps bring the ending home. The pacing is so different from what we in the West are use to, and this is a very nice change. Long shots of a most breath taking country. The film makers in Iran most be sad people from the kind of movies they have been putting out lately. I think that I will see "God" in a much different light after viewing this wonderful movie.

I had seen Majid's another film, "Children of Heaven", and surely had a deep positive impression through its natural manner in story telling style. It had a touching story too but screened in a rather natural manner.

This movie, on the contrary, has a direct symbolic manner which I don't feel comfortable to get its message clearly. Too much symbolism kills the naturalness which eventually lead the movie to a dead end; indeed its final scenes are almost nonsense making me say "so what".

I love Iranian movies very much, Iranian cinema has a deserved reputation all over the world, Majidi has a notable part of it. Regardless of the movie itself, I admired the country side where the movie filmed. I would like to have a chance to see those places in a same season of year. For me who is an obsessed admirer of nature, it would be relieving for my should struggling with city life.

The easier face of Iranian cinema gets an airing in this film about a blind boy and the tormented father who, incapable of caring for his son, wants only to chart a new road for himself. This isn't quite as calculated a crowd-pleaser as Majidi's earlier Children Of Heaven, although just about undoes the whole of that relative restraint in a fairly shameless, laughably sentimental (and ponderously foreshadowed) final image. The film has a certain pictorial finesse, and is never more engrossing than when aligned most closely with the child's point of view - evoking the vivid aural and tactile contours of his world. But when the film moves beyond that almost documentary-like core, it tends to find too-easy visual formulae and emotional evocations.

Majid Majidi, director and writer of the much-acclaimed "The Children of Heaven" has again proven to the world that he is able to demonstrate weighty ideas through simple depictions of everyday life in Iran. He shows audiences that his country is not just a place where reform movements, revolutions, and embassy seizing take place; but also where beautiful films are made. His new motion picture; "The Color of Paradise" is a real treat. It is about faith and belief, unconditional love and compassion, hardship and hope; and is both powerful and effective.

The lead character is a blind 8-year-old boy named Mohammad (Mohsen Ramezani). He is filled with compassion and has unlimited abilities to reach out to the world around him. Mohammad attends a school for the blind in Tehran. The school is closing for the summer and students are being sent home to their parents; most of them eagerly await their kids at the front gate just outside their dormitories. Hashem (Hossein Mahjub), Mohammad's father, is not eager to see him. In fact, he shows up so much later than everyone else that Mohammad had almost lost hope of ever seeing him again.

While waiting for his dad, the 8-year-old boy, although filled with anguish, did not shut himself down from the outside world. He successfully rescues a baby bird, climbs a tree, and returns it to its nest. All despite his inability to see.

Mohammad's dad finally shows up and requests that the school keep his son. Being told that this is not possible, he reluctantly takes the boy home.

This is where writer director Majid Majidi's cinematic brilliancy comes into play. His ability to let the audience experience both the visually impaired and visually unimpaired worlds without ever abandoning one for the other is simply remarkable. We can see and feel both, the beauties of the boy's surroundings, and his own world where touching and hearing replace seeing.

The photography is breathtaking as father and son trek home from the busy streets of Tehran into traders' and jewelry shops, then to the green mountains and fertile plains in the heights of northern Iran. Mohammad's arrival spurs bursts of joy from his Granny (Salime Feizi), the matriarch and surrogate mother since his mom passed away; and his two sisters (Elham Sharifi and Farahnaz Safari) with genuine angelic smiles. They are happy to see him, as they are ready to share an active farm life with him.

Mohammad's admiration for nature is almost addictive; whether it's walking through fields of flowers, or running his hand over ripening grain, or having fresh water running through his fingers, or hearing birds' songs, a donkey braying or examining the sound of a gathering storm; he literally finds the patterns of Braille in everything around him. Sounds like a loveable kid? Not so, according to his dad's needs. For him, the blind son is a burden, which prevents him from moving on with his life, and marrying a younger woman. Hashem is not a malevolent man. He is an impoverished, fast-aging, widowed, spiritually blind, hard-working charcoal maker who sees very little hope with the status quo. So despite the staunch opposition of his mother, he is determined to send Mohammad off to a blind carpenter for woodworking apprenticeship. But is he ready to bear the consequences of acting against Granny and the universal laws that govern the relationship between a parent and his offspring?

"The Color of Paradise" takes viewers on an incredible journey of faith and love and creates a masterpiece of emotion that is so beautiful in its simplicity and elegance it touches one's heart. It is done without forcing anything on the audience until the very last frame. This film does not preach. And it does not need to; its richness lies in its ability to portray basic elements of nature in their ordinary state. In places where Hollywood counterparts would have inserted blasting soundtracks, this movie simply lets nature echo in the background. Its soundtracks mostly consist of nature's own. In times of great suspense, the sound of nature (not human-made music) helps its audience through the changing moods.

Couple these facts with almost flawless acting, it's hard to compare this film with anything else in its league. It is simply Iranian cinema at its best. Mohsen Ramezani, who plays Mohammad, is excellent. A scene, in which he breaks down in tears over his tribulations and questions God for making his dad not wanting him, is brutally heart wrenching. Mohammad eventually shows us that it is possible to feel God's hand even if one can't see the color of paradise.