The Color of Paradise (1999)
"Rang-e khoda" (original title)

Mohammad, a boy at Tehran's institute for the blind, waits for his dad to pick him up for summer vacation. While waiting, he realizes a baby bird has fallen from its nest: he chases away a ... See full summary »

Director:

Majid Majidi

Writer:

Majid Majidi

Stars:

Hossein Mahjoub, Mohsen Ramezani, Salameh Feyzi

13 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Hossein Mahjoub	...	Father
Mohsen Ramezani	...	Mohammad
Salameh Feyzi	...	Grandma
Farahnaz Safari	...	Big Sister
Elham Sharifi	...	Little Sister
Behzad Rafi	...	Village Teacher
Mohamad Rahmani	...	Schoolteacher
Morteza Fatemi	...	Carpenter
Kamal Mirkarimi	...	Schoolmaster
Masoome Zinati	...	Young woman
Zahra Mizani	...	Schoolteacher
Ahmed Aminian	...	Young Wife's Father
Moghadam Behboodi	...	Village Headmaster
GanAli Khorami	...	Villager

Storyline

Mohammad, a boy at Tehran's institute for the blind, waits for his dad to pick him up for summer vacation. While waiting, he realizes a baby bird has fallen from its nest: he chases away a cat, finds the bird, climbs a tree, and puts it back. His father finally comes and takes him to their village where his sisters and granny await. The lad is a loving student of nature and longs for village life with his family, but his father is ashamed of him, wanting to farm the boy out to clear the way for marriage to a woman who knows nothing of this son. Over granny's objections, dad apprentices Mohammad far from home to a blind carpenter. Can anything bring father and son together?

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Plot Keywords:

village | boy | school | apprentice | carpenter | 

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Genres:

Drama | Family

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements

Details

Official Sites:

Majid Majidi films Sony

Country:

Iran

Language:

Persian Azerbaijani

Release Date:

7 September 2000 (Australia)

Also Known As:

The Color of God

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$28,144 (USA) (31 March 2000)

Gross:

$1,810,145 (USA) (6 October 2000)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Varahonar Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Selected as Iran's submission in the Best Foreign Film category for the 2000 Oscars.

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Quotes

Mohammad: [crying] Our teacher says that God loves the blind more because they can't see. But I told him if it was so, He would not make us blind so that we can't see Him. He answered "God is not visible. He is everywhere. You can feel Him. You see Him through your fingertips." / Now I reach out everywhere for God till the day my hands touch Him and tell Him everything, even all the secrets in my heart.

User Reviews

The best kind of cinema

Majid Majidi's COLOR OF PARADISE is the best kind of cinema. Simple in concept but executed with incredible skill and detail. We enter the world of a blind child in an incredibly intimate way, exploring his world of sound and touch and the isolation his blindness brings about. Almost ironically, we're also treated to some stunning images of lush scenery and locations. Absolutely mesmerising cinematography that even out-does the exceptional audiography.

Characters and their lives are simple but very believable, and the performances from every one of the actors is spot on. The movie exhorts us to appreciate life more, and makes a good case for doing so.

Highest recommendations!