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Color of Paradise, The

EMAILPRINTSony Pictures Classics

Color of Paradise, The reviews
80
10.0 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 25 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 7 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Drama

Written by: Majid Majidi

Directed by: Majid Majidi

Release Date:
Theatrical: March 24, 2000
DVD: September 19, 2000

Running Time: 90 minutes, Color

Origin: Iran

Language(s): Farsi (with English subtitles)

Summary

RATING: PG for thematic elements

Starring Mohsen Ramezani, Hossein Mahjoub, and Salime Feizi

The story of an active 8 year-old blind boy who shows how he senses the world without sight. The film also follows the progress of the father-son relationship after the death of the mother.

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

While never slow, the film feels quiet and spacious, like a prayer.

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100

Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey

The film's climax involves a father and son reunion that is tense, tragic and, finally, as transcendent as Mohammad himself.

100

Boston Globe Jay Carr

The story is spun forth ravishingly, tenderly, and urgently, with a captivating mix of beauty, spare sophistication, and profound humanity.

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100

San Francisco Chronicle Bob Graham

This is a transcendent film, deeply committed and beautifully wrought. It will make anyone who sees it look at the world with new eyes.

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93

Mr. Showbiz F. X. Feeney

It's an exhilarating display of filmic artistry.

90

Time Richard Corliss

This miniature epic is a film that, like its young hero, will enrich those who peer into its poignant heart.

90

Newsweek Ann-Rebecca Laschever

A beautifully told story of a child's innocence and faith, filmed with exquisite detail and stunning cinematography

88

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

A family film that shames the facile commercialism of a product like "Pokemon" and its value system based on power and greed.It is made with delicacy and beauty.

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88

New York Daily News Jami Bernard

Another perfect little gem from Iran in which the simplest story unleashes a torrent of emotion.

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88

Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington

The simplicity and idealism of The Color of Paradise are part of what makes it so attractive to near-jaded palates here. There are no evil characters in the film.

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80

Dallas Observer Jean Oppenheimer

A beautiful film from Iran explores beauty both physical and spiritual.

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80

Washington Post Desson Thomson

A heartbreaker, plain and simple.

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80

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

Reputed to be sentimental crowd pleaser, for better and for worse.

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80

Village Voice Michael Atkinson

Like a Hollywood dolt, Majidi strives to overwhelm us with emphasis, but it's the reality he was savvy to load his movie with that's touching.

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78

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

Less a film than a lyrical, naturalistic tone poem.

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75

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sean Axmaker

It's so beautiful and moving and simple that I'm willing to forgive Majidi his contrivances.

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75

Portland Oregonian Diana Abu-Jaber

Offers a charming reinterpretation of what it means to look for happiness and all the unexpected places that it may be found.

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75

New York Post Jonathan Foreman

Doesn't have the emotional heft of his "Children of Paradise," but it's still moving.

75

USA Today Staff [Not Credited]

Seductively pastoral but also a bit slight, the movie saves its best scene for the very end.

70

Film.com Henry Cabot Beck

Westerners may find the religious aspects wearying and a little fantastic. The Color of Paradise is both parable and fable, a retelling of Isaac and Abraham.

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70

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

As worthy and moving as The Color of Paradise is, it is not entirely free of the manipulative, the arbitrary and the downright punitive.

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70

The New York Times Dana Stevens

Leans a bit too much toward the lachrymose and has a wrong-note final image.

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70

TV Guide Ken Fox

The surprisingly tragic climax may make it rough going for kids too young to grasp the film's comforting message.

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70

LA Weekly Hazel-Dawn Dumpert

The performances are revelatory.

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50

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

Although it has a good heart and a warm spirit, this prettily filmed drama is more sentimental and manipulative than earlier Iranian films on youth-related subjects.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 10.0 (out of 10) based on 7 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Juna D. gave it a10:
Its one of the best movies i ever saw..... In the first scene, When he touches his father's hand...there is a load of emotion unleashed...it was so good...and the scene where he saves a baby bird..the thought wouldn't have flashed even in a perfect human's eye...totally....AWESOME BLOSSOM!!

Naveen A. gave it a10:
This is a wonderful movie. It is sheer poetry on cellulide. The last scene brings tears in viewer's eyes.

Suzanne S. gave it a10:
Fascinating!

Clair G. gave it a 10:
Fabulous.

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