Sun Children

Sun Children (Persian: خورشید, romanized: Khoršid), also known as The Sun,[2] is a 2020 Iranian drama film co-produced, co-written and directed by Majid Majidi.[3] It was presented in competition at the 77th Venice International Film Festival,[4][5] where child actor Rouhollah Zamani won the Marcello Mastroianni Award.[2] It was selected as the Iranian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards,[6] making the shortlist of fifteen films.[7]

Sun Children
Film poster
Directed byMajid Majidi
Screenplay byMajid Majidi
Nima Javidi
Produced byMajid Majidi
Amir Banan
StarringAli Nassirian
Javad Ezzati
Tannaz Tabatabaei
CinematographyHooman Behmanesh
Edited byHassan Hassandoost
Music byRamin Kousha
Release date
  • 10 February 2020 (2020-02-10) (Fajr)[1]
Running time
99 minutes
CountryIran
LanguagePersian

Plot

12-year-old Ali and his three friends do small jobs and petty crimes to survive and support their families. In a timely turn of events, Ali is entrusted to find a hidden underground treasure. However, in order to gain access to the tunnel where the treasure is buried, Ali and his gang have first to enroll at the near Sun School, a charitable institution that tries to educate street kids and child laborers.

Cast
  • Ali Nassirian as Hashem
  • Javad Ezzati as School Vice Principal
  • Tannaz Tabatabaei as Ali's mother
  • Rouhollah Zamani as Ali
  • Shamila Shirzad as Zahra
  • Seyed Mohammad Mehdi Mousavi Fard as Mamad
  • Abolfazl Shirzad as Abolfazl
  • Mani Ghafouri as Reza
  • Safar Mohammadi as School Janitor
  • Ali Ghabeshi as School Principal

Reception

Critical response

Iranian director Majid Majidi has made some of the most visually stunning and emotionally stirring films in world cinema about the plight of under-privileged, exploited and abused young people, and Sun Children (Khorshid) is one of his very best.

— The Hollywood Reporter / Deborah Young[8]

In “Sun Children,” the plot is considerably more complicated but still quite relatable, as Majidi stays focused on a small group of youngsters whose challenges, while minor, loom large as mountains in their minds.

— Variety / Peter Debruge[9]

Energetic and heartfelt, tipping towards tragedy, Sun Children crawls through the mud and emerges all the stronger. The quest is a red herring; the real treasure is the film.

— The Guardian / Xan Brooks[10]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 95% based on 21 reviews, with an average rating of 7.8/10.[11]

Metacritic, assigned the film a weighted average score of 70 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[12]

Accolades
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Fajr International Film Festival 11 February 2020 Best Film Majid Majidi, Amir Banan Won [3]
Best Screenplay Majid Majidi, Nima Javidi Won
Best Set Design Keyvan Moqaddam Won
Venice International Film Festival 12 September 2020 Marcello Mastroianni Award Rouhollah Zamani Won [4]
Lanterna Magica Award Majid Majidi Won
Miami International Film Festival 2021 Knight Marimbas Award Nominated [13]
Munich Film Festival Best International Film Nominated
Moscow International Film Festival NETPAC Jury Prize Nominated
Fünf Seen Film Festival Audience Award Nominated
15th Asian Film Awards 8 October 2021 Best Editor Hassan Hassandoost Nominated [14]
Best Newcomer Roohollah Zamani Nominated
Iran's Film Critics and Writers Association 2022 Best Cinematography Hooman Behmanesh Nominated

See also

References
  1. "The Sun director Majid Majidi says everybody responsible for child labor". Tehran Times. 11 February 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  2. "Venice Film Festival 2020 Winners: Nomadland Takes Golden Lion, Vanessa Kirby Is Best Actress". IndieWire. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  3. Mousavi Sabet, Seyyed Mostafa (11 February 2020). "Child labor drama The Sun shines as best film at Fajr festival". Tehran Times. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  4. Sharf, Zack (28 July 2020). "Venice Film Festival 2020 Full Lineup: Luca Guadagnino, Chloe Zhao, Gia Coppola, and More". IndieWire. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  5. "Venezia 77 Competition". labiennale.org. La Biennale di Venezia. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  6. "Majidi's 'The Sun' to represent Iran in Oscar 2021". Mehr News Agency. 8 November 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  7. Davis, Clayton (9 February 2021). "Oscars Shortlists Announced in Nine Categories". Variety. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  8. Young, Deborah (6 September 2020). "'Sun Children' ('Khorshid'): Film Review | Venice 2020". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  9. Debruge, Peter (6 September 2020). "'Sun Children' Review: Iranian Master Majid Majidi's Latest Empathizes With His Country's Exploited Kids". Variety. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  10. "Sun Children review – Iranian street kids strike gold". the Guardian. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  11. "Sun Children (2020)", Rotten Tomatoes, Fandango, retrieved 10 October 2021
  12. Sun Children, retrieved 11 August 2021
  13. "Sun Children". Miami Film Festival. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  14. Sabastian Nadilo (9 September 2021). "15th Asian Film Awards – Nominations 2021". Asian Film Festivals. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
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