'Boot Polish' and 'Children of Heaven' do have something in common. But It was mere coincidence that I saw both in the same week..Both these movies, talk about the magic that only children can create, like seven million wonders they find in the world they live ,where mere mortal adults (a-dull-ts) manage to find only seven of them. Both the movies are about poverty, pride and self respect and also the amazing love and care the little siblings share. Boot Polish, a 1954 Hindi movie, produced by Rajkapoor and directed by Prakash Arora cannot be compared to Majid Majidi's brilliant Iranian work of 1997 ,'Children heaven', in terms of Cinematic Qualities or which ever ingredients that make a good Cinema. Indian mainstream Cinema of 1950's was often plagued by hyper-melodrama, extreme low budgets and their nondetachable mainstream theater influence. Of course, there was one 'Pather Panjali', from the great Satyaji Ray which was released in the same period. But, its unfair to weigh Ray and Arora on the same balance. Neverthless, Boot polish was nominated for Palm d'Or at Cannes. Coming back to Children of Heaven; Its absolute magic. A beautiful tale of Innocence and dreams on the backdrop of a pair of old shoes that was lost. Majidi's Camera is so beautiful and realistic that, You would love to see few shots, even when they are repeated umpteenth times.Children here in both the movies lives in poverty here but refuses to beg, live wiht what they got, and never fail to dream. Though the movie was nominated for best foreign film oscar in the year 1998 it lost to another foriegn movie; the italian classic, 'Life is beautiful'; another all time favorite of mine. The way Majidi ends his movie is another thing to note; which is another magical shot, which might be his way to tell us , 'things don't get better that fast'; where his Indian counterpart had to be contented with that typical Indian All-Present-All-smiling-Group-photo ending.
