Sun Children
Strand Releasing | Release Date: June 25, 2021 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
70
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Critic Reviews
Positive:
8
Mixed:
2
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
91
The A.V. ClubRoxana HadadiJun 22, 2021
A tidal wave of compassion and empathy that crests into rage and sorrow—all of it provoked by the plight of Iran’s child laborers. Read full review
80
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Amil NiaziJul 8, 2021
Despite the heavy material, the film manages to imbue the story with heart and even breakthrough moments of joy. Read full review
80
Los Angeles TimesCarlos AguilarJun 26, 2021
Though affecting and humbly breathtaking, Sun Children doesn’t bargain in condescending pity. Read full review
80
The Hollywood ReporterDeborah YoungSep 13, 2020
Though Sun Children lacks the visual lushness and poetry that made Children of Heaven so seductive, its condemnation of child labor and the inaccessibility of basic education to the poor comes across with great force. Read full review
80
The GuardianXan BrooksSep 13, 2020
Energetic and heartfelt, tipping towards tragedy, Sun Children crawls through the mud and emerges all the stronger. The quest is a red herring; the real treasure is the film. Read full review
70
Screen DailyLee MarshallSep 13, 2020
Its old-school charm shades into tired plotting more than once, and the moral lesson concealed in the film’s central story about a gang of tykes’ search for buried treasure can feel a little preachy. Read full review
67
Austin ChronicleJenny NulfJun 30, 2021
Maijidi’s latest was Iran’s submission for the most recent Oscars, a film that’s gentle, packed with all the familiar beats you find in these City of God-like child POV gritty fairy tales. Read full review
63
Slant MagazineWes GreeneJun 20, 2021
The film tends toward the dramatically monotonous, but its unwavering sense of purpose ensures that it’s also compellingly human. Read full review
60
VarietyPeter DebrugeSep 13, 2020
If one intention of Sun Children is to remind that all kids are created equal, deserving of education and encouragement, Majidi’s young ensemble makes the case loud and clear. Read full review
50
The New York TimesDevika GirishJun 24, 2021
Majid Majidi’s latest feature doesn’t lack in style or charm, using a child’s perspective — a staple in Iranian cinema — to locate beauty and hope in a cynical world. As is often the case with the director’s work, however, precious visuals come at the cost of narrative complexity. Read full review
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