Sun Children

‘Sun Children’ is the story of the twelve-year-old Ali and his three friends. Together they work hard to survive and to maintain their families. They do chores in a garage and every now and again they work for the local mafioso to make a quick buck. Ali is given the task to find a hidden treasure, for which he recruits his friends. The treasure is said to be hidden in a school, which turns out to be a school where street children get back on track. The friends enrol.

The film is dedicated to the 152 million children who are forced into child labour. Most of the non-professional actors have been recruited by the director in the streets of Tehran. Drawing from their own experiences, they deliver heart-breaking performances and convey true emotions. Slowly but surely, the director and the actors reveal a world where there are no easy answers, nor happy endings. This sincere film has its heart in the right place and can easily bear comparison to a film like ‘Capharnaüm’.