Hainan festival to screen Iranian ‘Sun Children’

Iranian movie ‘Sun Children’ has been scheduled to go on screen at the Hainan Island International Film Festival (HIIFF) in China.

Made by Iranian filmmaking master Majid Majidi, the movie will be screened at the HIIFF’s Asian Spectrum, a non-competitive section that aims to construct a new landscape for Asian cinema.

‘Sun Children’ tells the story of a 12-year-old boy and his three friends. They work quite hard to financially support their needy families while they sometimes commit petty crimes to make easy money.

Everything changes, however, when one of them is entrusted to find a hidden treasure underground, but he must first enroll at the Sun (Khorshid) School, a charitable institution that tries to educate street kids and children suffering child labor.

The movie is a depiction of the contrast between the world of children and adults, which is clearly shown by the children and the path they are about to take to become grown-ups.

The film represents the lack of education and repressive attitudes that deprive these children of their childhood.

In this regard, special attention has been paid to the issue of playing which normally defines a part of childhood.

Majidi was earlier quoted by the local media as saying, “The message of ‘Sun Children’ is that we are all responsible for these children, many of whom are extremely talented and all of whom are precious.”

He also noted that “it is simply not tolerable that their social and economic status consigns them to a future of limited opportunities and poor prospects.”

‘Sun Children’ won the Crystal Simorgh for best film at the 38th Fajr Film Festival in Tehran in February 2020.

Co-written by Nima Javidi and Majidi, some notable actors such as Ali Nasiriyan, Javad Ezzati, and Tannaz Tabatabaee have appeared in the film.

Majidi is scheduled to attend this edition of the HIIFF to promote his movie.

‘Sun Children’ has been selected to represent Iran in the best foreign-language film category of the 93rd Academy Awards in 2021.

The movie has gone on screen at several global events, including the 77th Venice Film Festival in Italy, where it brought the Marcello Mastroianni Award to its young actor Rouhollah Zamani.

The 33rd International Film Festival for Children and Youth in Iran presented its best director award to Majidi and its best actor award to Zamani.

The 2020 edition of the HIIFF will take place in the Chinese city of Sanya on December 5-12.

Read more:

‘Sun Children’ cast honored in Iran

Critics name ‘Sun Children’ among top 20 films of int’l fests

MG/MG