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August 06, 2003
Children of Heaven
I rushed home from my aunt's place tonight because I know the Mother is waiting for me at home. Late dinner cooked especially for me. And we had wanted to watch Colours of Paradise on Arts Central together. It is a film by the same director who did the acclaimed Children of Heaven and as expected, this movie deals with the psyche of children.
However, it is nothing like Children of Heaven. It left me largely dissatisfied and in tears. In furious tears. Although the many nuances and subtle symbolism employed by Majd Majidi successfully added to the mastery of the film, the narration lacks strength. What the movie lacks in narration, the movie makes up with the actors' marvellous portrayal of the heartfelt characters. The blind boy in the movie, I found out, is really blind in real life and the director caught several of his own natural moments on film for the movie. However, the movie is heartwrenching without any tinge of the bittersweet humour found in Children of Heaven and the ending, though (as much as I hate to admit) apt, left my heart gaping.
For purely maudlin reasons, I prefer Children of Heaven. It is certainly a far more superior movie. Perhaps the director is banking on the success of the former film and trying to re-create another wonder of a movie with futile attempts. And also, this movie got me angry. Angry at the director. Angry at the world. And almost angry at God. So after the movie, I called Jerome long-distance to rant about it to him. He tried to pacify me about the ending (which I shall not divulge) but I see no justice in the world. Not the movie. Not in anything. I know the world is ugly, but must we only find hope with such metaphysical methods?
For as the blind boy said, "Teacher said that God loves people and loves blind people a little bit more. But if God loves blind people a little bit more, why does God make them blind then?"
No adult has the answer to such a question.
Posted by lainey at August 6, 2003 11:18 PM
Comments
Because blind people are not blinded by the images of themselves. :)
Sometimes the blind can see better then the seeing people do ...
The heart does not have eyes ... it only needs a mind :)
Posted by: Big island near england at August 7, 2003 09:42 AM
Isn't it easier to be noble when we are not the ones in duress?
Isn't it to romanticize blindness, when we are not blind?
At least, that's what I think.
Posted by: lainey at August 8, 2003 07:13 AM
I'm watching Children of God next Thursday. That's for sure.
Posted by: D W at August 9, 2003 10:21 PM