POSTED INTHROUGH THE LENS

Most Heartwarming Children’s Roles in Cinema

Posted on November 14, 2020 by wordsofdz

An actor’s job is simply to convince the viewers that they are the character they are playing. But it’s not as simple as it sounds, in order to convince viewers one must convenience themselves first. The only way of doing that is by “being” the character and not “acting” out the character. One has to think, feel and react like the character would; which is a tough thing to achieve. Especially when one has experienced a whole different life, which builds certain blocks in their head; making them the person they are, breaking from which can be quite a task.

So, inexperience can sometimes be favorable for an actor; a clear head is always an actor’s aid. This is where a child artist has an upper hand, their emotions are pure. Eyes express a lot of what a person is and that is why people find children’s eyes innocent. Still, it’s not a child’s play to get a child to play (a role) . The innocence has to be used in a tactful manner in order to get the most out of a child. That’s why there are only a few gems of film where a child’s role moves you and you associate with that character. 

Here is a list of films which have some of the most heartwarming children’s role

The Children Of Heaven

Directed by one of Iran’s most prominent director Majid Majidi, The Children Of Heaven is amongst the most sincere portrayals of children. The film successfully captures the purity and innocence of a child’s mind through the simple obstacles that they face in order to make their parents’ life easier, the latter being preoccupied providing for the family. The amplitude of trouble both the siblings go through just so that their parents do not have to burden themselves with a new pair of shoes authenticates the film’s title. It takes us back to when simple things used to mean a world to us. 

Taare Zameen Par

Finding another film which shows a child’s emotion in a more proficient way will be fruitless undertaking. Backed by solid performances and remarkable understanding of a child’s psyche, the film is a tale of a child overcoming the pressure and expectations of the society and making his own place. It’s stirring to witness the child coping with all that his surrounding throws at him, and then watching him evolve under correct nurturing. It is a mirror to the highly competitive society where there is no allowance for wonder and leisure. 

As the title suggests, the film is all about the intriguing mess that Mumbai is, not concerning its riches, but the rags. Set in the streets, it profoundly captures the essence of the city. Now, the streets are a harsh habitat, more so for a child. The children in this movie are our eyes to the rugged life on the street, where there is no place for innocence. Mira Nair has extracted performances so natural from her actors that the movie couldn’t be more close to reality. It’s very rare that we get to see this range of emotions in children. 

Salaam Bombay

The 400 Blows

François Truffaut’s first, The 400 Blows is a revolutionary film for the French cinema. It’s an unconventional story of a neglected adolescent boy, who has matured beyond his years and has become a rebel causing trouble everywhere around him. The film is a testament to what children can become when all they have seen is neglect. His life experiences have toughened him and turned him into a rogue. It’s a semi-autobiography of the director himself and his journey to his independence, which gives the character of Antoine Doinel a realistic touch. 

Life Is Beautiful

One wouldn’t expect a film based on one of the most tragic incidents in human history to be named as this. While showing the vicious side of the holocaust, the film also shows how a father shields his son and also people around him from hatred of the fascists. It’s through the child (as a result of his father’s attitude) that the story tells us that no matter what situation one is in, life still can be beautiful. Children are the emblem of hope, and the same is preserved in the end of the film when our child-hero survives the tragedy. 

The Boy Who Harnessed Wind

It’s astonishing how much humans have to work to fulfill just their basic necessities, especially when the conditions around are hostile. The film is about the hardship the African population has to face to fill their bellies and a teenager who hopes to help that cause using all the resources available to him. With no one by his side, he keeps working on his vision in the harshest of conditions. And through his persistence and adamancy, achieved it finally, becoming an inspiration and also a saviour for the whole village.

Bicycle Thieves

Set in post war Italy, the film highlights the hardships that a family faces for basic survival. The livelihood of the family depended on a job which requires a cycle, which gets stolen. It’s when the father and kid sets off to find the thief in the city, that we see the heart warming commitment the kid has towards his dad and finding the cycle. The kid at such an early age knows the criticality of the cycle which they had bought after selling articles from their home. The kid is a constant support to his father, even after constant negligence from the latter. 

Pather Panchali

Satyajit Ray’s first film, Pather Panchali is a realistic film set in a rural village of Bengal. It is about the hardships of a family without any fixed source of income and how the financial condition and social structure affect a girl child. The character of Durga (the girl child) is  beautifully knotty, and has a realistic touch to it. She gets her way through all the restraints and now and again does what gives her joy. She is plenty responsible and also has child-like wishes. The film is a perfect description of life in rural India.

Pursuit Of Happyness

I can add this film just due to how adorable the kid is, but that is not the criteria. The kid deepens the emotional appeal of the film, adding an extra layer of subtext to it. The child was in some ways, asking out loud what his father felt but didn’t have an outlet to speak out. Being with the kid represented the happiness that the father was pursuing. The loss and hardship they faced was amplified due to the presence of the child, and so was the happiness. The undying trust that children have in their parents sometimes becomes the support the parents require.   

Keep the child in you alive! Happy Children’s day.