Song of Sparrows [Import]

"The Song of Sparrows" is an un-subtle but endearing morality tale by director and co-writer Majid Majidi. Karim (Reza Maji) is a family man who works on an ostrich farm to support his wife and three children. His eldest daughter's hearing aid is damaged with school exams just weeks away. With the expense of replacing it already weighing heavily him, Karim loses his job. Still determined to do something about the hearing aid, Karim makes the trip to Tehran, where he is mistaken for a motorcycle taxi. The money in this new-found occupation appeals to him, and Karim returns to Tehran every day to earn more. But his wife Narges (Maryam Akbari) and children see an unwelcome change in Karim's values and disposition.

Iranian cinema has a way of capturing earnestness in imperfect people that no other culture does so successfully. "The Song of Sparrows" is no exception. Karim so wants to improve conditions for his family and provide for them once again that he loses perspective. We can't help but sympathize and feel for his small triumphs and those of his young son, whose dream of turning an old water storage into a fish farm parallel his father's ambitions. There is a good deal of humor too, as the director pokes fun a the harried businessmen who are Karim's passengers. I found the condemnation of materialism heavy-handed, however, in a film that otherwise has a light touch. In Farsi with optional English subtitles. No bonus features on the E1 Entertainment 2010 DVD.

Majid Majidi has directed another exquisite film that will please his fans and appeal to those who enjoy films that tell a simple, but meaningful story in a pristine fashion. In SONG OF SPARROWS the visual images are much more revealing of the underlying story than the dialogue is, in my opinion. Karim, played adeptly by Reza Naji, is an irascible patriarch whose ill fortune as a farm hand changes virtually by chance when he travels to the capital city of Tehran on his motorbike. As his good fortune brings more material objects to his simple country home, his troubles continue to plague him until fate literally comes crashing down on him and awakens him to the more important, simple pleasures of life. This movie will appeal especially to families, foreign film fans, and those enjoy cinematic art movies.

This is the story of Karim, the rural Iranian father of a deaf teen-aged daughter and two younger children. When, at the same time, he loses his job on an Ostrich ranch and his daughter loses her hearing aid right before important school exams, he heads to Tehran on his motorbike to look for work. By accident, he becomes a motorbike taxi driver and begins to make more money than he ever dreamed of. But he also begins to change as his desire for things and his ethics collide. Having promised his wife that the first priority would be to replace their daughter's hearing aid, he finds himself tempted by the material life he now has access to. Several heart breaking incidents cause him to examine what he has become. While the story/parable may be familiar, what is special is the way Majidi presents it. The dialogue is minimal letting the non-verbal actions of the characters speak for themselves as well as the great cinematography. Unlike many (not all)American films, it does not insult your intelligence with shallow dialogue and unnecessary action. Majidi really develops the characters into believable human beings. Reza Naji is great as Karim and the children in the film are so delightful and photogenic. And if you enjoy learning about and experiencing other cultures, it is a great window into Iranian culture, in this case, both rural and urban. With most of us only getting the sound bites about Iran we hear on radio or TV, this will give an insight into the real people and culture.