I found this gem in the Cinema Passport: Iran collection on FilmStruck a few weeks ago and I still smile whenever I think about it. It follows two school-age siblings, Ali and Zahra, as they deal with the consequences of misplacing Zahra's pink shoes. Impoverished as they are in the capital city of Tehran, this is a big deal. They decide that in order to get to their respective schools, Zahra will wear her brother's sneakers in the morning for her classes, and they will meet and secretly swap shoes before he goes to his. This works for a while, but their timing isn't always perfect, and there are puddles and jealousies about all the nice shoes the other students can afford to buy. Ultimately, Ali decides to enter a footrace because one of the prizes is a pair of awesome new sneakers that he promises he will win and trade at a shop for girls' shoes.
These clever kids are effortlessly adorable and through their experiences, we are given a vibrant portrait of the haves and have-nots in Tehran. When Ali's father opts to bike to the affluent part of town to get work as a gardener for extra cash, the white-walled homes with gates are pure opulence compared to the one-room hovels they are used to. For one afternoon, Ali befriends a rich little boy who is bored while ensconced in his perfect world, but is happy to have a playmate for a while, no matter his station in life.
The race at the end is fills you with the thrill and suspense of an Olympic event, and the siblings learn a life lesson that viewers of any age will appreciate. It's a pure, realistic film that magically transports you to Iran as well as your own childhood, wherever and whenever that might have been.
ALL THE STARS. SO GOOD.