'The Colour of Paradise' is a fascinating look at life in rural Iran, as "seen" through the eyes of a young blind boy. In the west, the cultural gap between the city and the country has grown small; but this film, which starts in a Teheran that could be London, before moving to the country, shows how different the two can be. The film begins slowly and isn't the slickest movie ever made, but the're's a sense of truth in its portrayal of the world, and its emotional power grows while you watch the story of a man, the boy's father, who through self-pity has lost the capacity to love. Throughout, the natural world is beautifully and creatively shot, although the symbolism is sometimes obvious (shaded of Terrence Mallick, perhaps?). An interesting and understated movie.
Review of The Color of Paradise
