The Color of Paradise

"The Color of Paradise" is a beautiful film from Iran that centers around Mohammad, a blind 8-year-old who has used his other senses to become attuned to nature and to win over the staff and other students at an institute for the sight-impaired.

Unfortunately, those abilities don't really impress the boy's father, Hashem, a widowed laborer who believes his son is an unfair burden. Rather than take the boy back with him after the school year is out, he pleads with administrators to keep him through the summer vacation. Eventually, he does agree to take Mohammad home, and there the boy quickly thrives under the guidance of his two happy-go-lucky sisters and his grandmother, who runs the family farm.

There, the real reason for Hashem's fatherly reluctance is revealed — he is planning to marry a woman from a strict Islamic family and fears his son will embarrass him. So he schemes to give Mohammad away to a sight-impaired carpenter, hoping the boy will at least learn a trade.

Hashem has been working very hard to raise the dowry and gifts that are necessary to get her hand in marriage. Consent is given by the woman's family after he presents the gifts.

My parents, sisters, nephews and nieces are all living in Europe and buying gifts for everybody is the most time consuming part of a trip when I fly back to see them. Considering that my gf's parents are from Iran, I never thought my 'gift' buying skills' would come in handy for marriage proposals as well :)