TEHRAN The Iranian film `Children of Heaven', directed by Majid Majidi, is a 1999 Oscar nominee in the best foreign film category. The film depicts the story of a sister and brother from a poor family but with great human expectations who live with their parents in a shanty home in Tehran. The daughter of the family, the 7-year old Zahra, loses her shoes on her way home from a cobbler together with her 9-year old brother Ali. The two decide to conceal the secret from their parents and as a solution plan to use Ali's canvas shoes alternatively.

In an article appearing in the weekly gazette, The American Film Critic, Diana Green has described `Children of Heaven' as unparalleled in its kind. Green has opined that Iranian films, compared to the world's most famous films, are the essence of simplicity, attraction and meaningfulness. She said such films begin with a simple story but gradually develops into a great human drama.

`Children of Heaven' will be screened in Washington as of coming Friday.