The Color of Paradise

A blind boy named Mohammad is released from his special school in Tehran for the summer. This newfound freedom marks the beginning of his exploration and connection with the world outside the confines of his institution.

Mohammad's father, Hashem, arrives late to pick him up, burdened by shame regarding his son's blindness. Despite his desire to keep his son safe, Hashem faces refusal from the headmaster when he tries to keep Mohammad for the summer.

As a widower, Hashem seeks to marry a local woman and seeks her parents' approval by presenting gifts. He feels the pressure to conceal Mohammad's disability, fearing it would jeopardize his chances of marrying.

Mohammad joyfully explores the hills surrounding his village with his sisters. He demonstrates an extraordinary ability to connect with nature through his other senses, feeling the rhythms and textures of his environment.

At the local school, Mohammad impresses his peers and teacher by reading his Braille lessons. His enthusiasm and capability challenge the perceptions surrounding his blindness and inspire those around him.

In an effort to hide his son's blindness, Hashem sends Mohammad to apprentice under a blind carpenter. During his training, Mohammad wrestles with feelings of sorrow as he longs to see God, questioning the meaning of his blindness.

Mohammad expresses to the carpenter his belief that God does not love him because he is blind. This poignant moment reflects his struggles with faith and the hope that his condition does not distance him from the divine.

Mohammad's grandmother learns of his hardships and becomes distressed. Overcome by emotion, she inadvertently drops Mohammad's hairpin into a pond, symbolizing impending tragedy, which leads to her death after the shock of the event.

The family's misfortune is perceived as an ill omen, causing the bride's family to cancel the wedding plans. This further burdens Hashem, compounding his shame and despair over his son's condition.

Hashem decides to bring Mohammad back home, engulfed by feelings of embarrassment for both his son and himself. He retrieves Mohammad from the carpenter, and they begin their journey back through the woods.

While crossing a small wooden bridge over a rushing river, disaster strikes as the bridge collapses. Mohammad falls into the water, and Hashem is momentarily paralyzed, torn between his instincts to save his son and his feelings of burden.

In a moment of clarity, Hashem dives into the river, overcoming his hesitation to rescue Mohammad. This act of bravery reflects his ultimate acceptance of his son and the love that transcends his initial shame.

Hashem finds Mohammad unconscious on the shore of the Caspian Sea. Overcome with grief but still hopeful, he cradles Mohammad in his arms as nature seems to respond, with a woodpecker's sound resonating in the background.

In a miraculous moment, Mohammad's fingers begin to twitch, leading Hashem to believe his son is connecting with the divine. This act represents a profound sense of hope and reaffirmation of their bond amidst despair.