Color of Paradise

COLOR OF PARADISE

BY MAJID MAJIDI

GRADES 5-12

Majid Majidi, whose delightful Children of Heaven became the first Iranian film ever nominated for an Oscar, returns to the subject of children for this lush and lovely--if contrived--melodrama. A spirited blind boy with a passion for learning and life arrives home for a three-month break. He's loved by his giggly little sisters and adored by his gentle granny, but his widowed, self-pitying father sees him as a burden and is determined to foist him off on someone else before he remarries--specifically, a kindly blind carpenter who welcomes the boy with all his heart. Majidi is at his best exploring the texture of the boy's world--little hands feeling their way through a garden, the sounds of metal pencils punching out Braille pages, the shuffle of fingers on paper--and his imagery is delicate and lush. The story descends into scripted tragedy and a contrived, action-packed climax (unusual for a cinema known for its restraint), and the emotional tenor turns sentimental and cloying, but Majidi turns it all around with an astounding, heartbreakingly powerful final image. If there is one thing many Iranian films have in common, it's an unerring sense of how to end a film. This is one of the most affecting ever: beautiful, moving, simple, a glowing moment that crystallizes the entire movie. --Sean Axmaker Amazon.com

THEMES:

OTHER CULTURES, CUSTOMS

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

DISABILITIES

COLOR OF PARADISE

PRE-VIEWING ACTIVITIES

Journals can be used to record answers to the following:

What are the things you think you would miss if you could no longer see?

What do you know about blindness? (kind, causes, treatments, coping strategies)

Brainstorm - words that relate to experiences of the disabled and words that relate to loneliness

- as the film is shown keep a word wall or bank of descriptive words suggested by what is seen in the film

TRY THIS

In partners, blindfold one partner and lead them somewhere different and describe where you are and what you see. In a safe area, give your blindfolded partner instructions on how to get to something or somewhere. Switch roles. Have students journal their thoughts and experiences on blindness.

AFTER FIRST VIEWING

What are your first impressions of Mohammad and his school?

Describe what happens while Mohammed waits for his father?

Why would music be an important thing to the children?

What does Mohammed’s father ask the schoolmaster?

Why do you think the father is reluctant to take his son home?

POST VIEWING ACTIVITIES

Select appropriate activities from these listed below.

TEXT TO SELF CONNECTION

SCENE/EVENT:

THIS REMINDS ME OF

SCENE/EVENT:

THIS REMINDS ME OF

DESCRIBE OR DRAW A SCENE

Choose a scene or event that you have a strong image of in your mind. Draw it or describe it and try to explain why this made an impression on you.

NARRATIVE LITERARY OUTLINE

In order to connect the reading process with critically viewing a film, have students fill out an NLO (Narrative Literary Outline) after viewing then film. It would be more effective if students have previous experience using NLOs on short stories or novels. You can also use Freytag’s pyramid other plot organizers.

CHARACTER MAP

Use the attached organizer to record Mohammed’s character.

COLOR OF PARADISE

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

At the school, what are the children learning in class?
What city is the school located?(this will be answer later)
How do the parents receive their children at the end of term.?
Who is Mohammad waiting for?
Why does Mohammad’s father not want to take him home?
What happened to Mohammad’s mother?
Who do you think the jewelery is for?
Describe where Mohammad lives.
Who are the other members of the family?
How do they receive Mohammad?
What feeling do you have when the father is shaving?
Why does the father bring gifts to the woman’s family?
What plans does the father have for Mohammad?
What does the grandmother think of this plan?
What does Mohammad do when listening to the woodpeckers?
Why is Mohammed so connected to nature?
How is Mohammad able to cope at his sisters school?
Why do you think the father wants Mohammed out of his house?
Why is Mohammad lonely?
How does the grandmother react to the father’s taking Mohammad away? Why would this be shameful for the father?
Why does the marriage plan fall through?
What does the father learn in the end?
Why is the sound track heightened so we can hear wind and birds and other natural sounds?
How does Mohammad “see” his world?
How can you explain the father’s behavior?

COLOR OF PARADISE

What are the similarities and differences between your life and Mohammed’s life?

MY LIFE MOHAMMED’S LIFE

SIMILARITIES

BACKGROUND

(no political background needed)

Some Muslim traditions to consider:

Patriarchal society

Arranged marriage

Subjugation of women

Conditions of Iran - Poverty, hardship and lack of education especially for rural people.

Characters

Hossein Mahjoub .... Father

Mohsen Ramezani ... Mohammad

Salameh Feyzi.... Grandma

Farahnaz Safari.... Big Sister

Elham Sharifi.... Little Sister

Behzad Rafi.... Village Teacher

Mohamad Rahmani … Schoolteacher

Morteza Fatemi .... Carpenter

Kamal Mirkarimi .... Schoolmaster

Masoome Zinati .... Young woman

Zahra Mizani.... Schoolteacher

Ahmed Aminian .... Young Wife's Father

Moghadam Behboodi .... Village Headmaster

GanAli Khorami.... Villager

General Information on Iran

Wikipedia

World Fact Book

Iranian Cultural Information Center

IRAN SCAVENGER HUNT QUESTIONS

1. What countries surround Iran?______

2. What is the capital of Iran? ______

3. What was Iran originally called? ______

4. What is the capital of Iran? ______

5. What is today’s population of Iran? ______

6. What religions are practiced in Iran? ______

______

7. What is the official language of Iran? ______

8. What is the national motto? ______

9. What is the importance of goldfish in Iran? ______

10. Draw the Iranian flag and explain the significance of the colors and symbols.

______

13. What is the Iranian currency?______

14. What is its value against the American dollar?______

15. What is the Iranian national debt? ______What is the U.S. national debt? ______

16. Who is the leader of Iran? ______

17. What was his political party?______

18. What are Iran’s natural resources? ______

19. What was Iran’s ancient name? ______

20. What are the natural hazards in Iran? ______

______

MAP OF IRAN

On this map locate the capital of Tehran, , the countries that surround Iraq, other major cities and waterways.

COLOR OF PARADISE

RELATED LITERATURE AND RESOURCES

Beast by Donna Jo Napoli, Rafal Olbinski

Persia's Brightest Star: The Diary of Queen Esther's Attendant (Promised Land Diaries)

by Anne Adams,

Celebrating Norouz (Persian New Year) by Yassaman Jalali

The Seven Wise Princesses: A Medieval Persian Epic by Wafa Tarnowska, et al

Secret of the Seventh Gate by Hazel Spire

Persepolis : The Story of a Childhood -- by Marjane Satrapi

Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return -- by Marjane Satrapi

The Miracle Worker (play) – William Gibson

POETRY

From the American Association for the Blind

FILMS

The Miracle Worker

Wait Until Dark

BRAILLE