The Song of Sparrows 2009

In the tranquil surroundings of an ostrich farm just outside Tehran, Karim (character) resides in a humble abode with his devoted wife Narges and their three young children, whom he strives to keep happy. His days unfold with a sense of contentment, as he tends to the farm alongside his family.

One fateful day, while tending to his duties at the farm, Karim receives an urgent summons to return home early, as his elder daughter Haniyeh has misplaced her hearing aid. Upon arriving at their modest residence, he finds his son Hussein and a group of neighborhood children engaged in an expedition to locate the lost device. Their search leads them to the family’s underground water cistern, which, due to blockages, has devolved into a murky sludge-filled pit. Karim scolds his son and friends for venturing into this unhealthy environment but soon joins forces with them to scour the depths of the cistern.

As they search for the hearing aid, Hussein and his companions reveal their audacious plan to clear the sludge and raise fish in the hopes of striking it rich. However, Karim is unconvinced by their proposal and discourages them from pursuing such a venture. Eventually, they locate the hearing aid, but upon examination, Karim discovers that it’s malfunctioning. His anxiety grows as he learns that the hospital estimates a wait time of up to four months for a free repair or an immediate replacement in Tehran city, which poses a significant challenge given his daughter’s upcoming exam.

With the prospect of waiting months for a solution or traveling to the city to expedite the process weighing heavily on his mind, Karim finds himself increasingly consumed by worry about ensuring Haniyeh’s hearing aid is promptly restored.

As the days go by, a sense of unease settles over Karim’s life. The fallout from the escaped ostrich at the farm begins to take its toll, and he finds himself facing the harsh reality of being unfairly blamed and subsequently fired. The financial strain becomes palpable when he learns that repairing his daughter Haniyeh’s hearing aid will require a significant investment of 350,000 tomans. In an effort to make ends meet, Karim seizes the opportunity to capitalize on his mistaken identity as a motorcycle taxi driver in the bustling city. As he navigates the treacherous traffic, he finds himself surrounded by an endless stream of people and goods, each with their own story to tell.

Despite his initial generosity and honesty, the relentless demands of his new profession begin to chip away at Karim’s character, much to the dismay of those closest to him. His wife and daughters bear witness to the gradual erosion of his values as he becomes increasingly consumed by the allure of discarded treasures brought back from the city. The mounting pile of junk, once a symbol of goodwill, now threatens to engulf him, leaving him little time for more pressing concerns like Haniyeh’s hearing aid.

Just when it seems like Karim is at rock bottom, disaster strikes. While attempting to tidy up the chaotic mess, he suffers a devastating accident that leaves his leg broken and other injuries in its wake, rendering him unable to work. As he lies bedridden, his son Hussein steps into the breach, taking on responsibilities to support the family.

In the midst of Karim’s recovery, a poignant moment of redemption unfolds when his son and friends successfully deliver fresh fish, only for their hard-earned bounty to be cruelly destroyed in an accident. Undeterred, Hussein takes matters into his own hands, releasing the dying fish into the nearby water, a selfless act that fills Karim with pride.

As Karim’s health begins to improve, news of the ostrich’s eventual return arrives from an old colleague, prompting him to pay a poignant visit to the farm. Tears streaming down his face, he beholds the long-lost bird, a bittersweet reminder of the journey that has brought him full circle.