Is Children of Heaven Worth Watching? Our Hanung Bramantyo Review

This Children of Heaven review starts with a simple fact: the story is small, but it hits big. Hanung Bramantyo's 2026 Indonesian drama remakes Majid Majidi's 1997 Iranian film and moves it into local culture. At 97 minutes, it is a short, sincere family film.

Children of Heaven Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

Ali and Zahra are young siblings who share a secret. Ali took Zahra's only shoes in for repair, and they went missing. Afraid of the trouble it will cause at home, they agree to say nothing.

Their fix is clever and a little heartbreaking. Zahra wears Ali's worn shoes to school in the morning, then runs home as fast as she can so Ali can wear them for his afternoon classes. The Children of Heaven plot gets a fresh spark when Ali hears about an inter-school running race. The third-place prize is a pair of shoes.

That is as far as we will go. The setup alone shows how a tiny problem can feel enormous when you are a child.

What Works in Children of Heaven

The premise is the film's biggest strength. Everyone remembers a childhood secret that felt like life or death. The film treats that fear with respect instead of playing it for cheap laughs.

The adaptation also reads as Indonesian rather than a copy. A Letterboxd review said the film carries the essence of the original into Indonesian cultural context. A TIMES Indonesia review went further, calling the remake a complement that answers gaps some local viewers felt in the original.

The film is also easy to follow. Its goal is simple: a pair of shoes. That clear target gives the drama a steady pulse and makes the running-race thread easy to root for.

Fans of tender stories can find more in our family movie reviews.

Children of Heaven Cast and Performances

The Children of Heaven cast is led by two young actors. Jared Ali plays Ali, and Humaira Jahra plays Zahra. The TIMES Indonesia review singled out both for strong acting, and the film depends on them.

The adults play supporting roles around the children:

• Andri Mashadi as Karim

• Faradina Mufti as Fatimah

• Muhadkly Acho as Slamet

• Oki Rengga as Bowo

The sibling bond has to carry the whole film. If the two leads did not feel like real brother and sister, the secret and the shared shoes would fall flat. Early audience response suggests they hold it together.

Where Children of Heaven Stumbles

The main risk is familiarity. This is a remake of a famous film, so viewers who know the 1997 version will already know the shape of the story. Newcomers will not mind, but longtime fans may want more surprises.

There is also very little critical record so far. I found no published critics' consensus, and the audience scores rest on small numbers of votes. Treat the early praise as a promising sign, not a final verdict.

Finally, a story this gentle will not suit everyone. If you want fast plotting or big twists, the quiet pace may feel slight. It is a drama built on small stakes and big feelings.

If you prefer something similar, our drama movie reviews cover other human-scale stories, including Na Willa, a childhood tale set in a Surabaya alley.

Is Children of Heaven Worth Watching?

Yes, especially if you like warm, child-centred dramas. Early reviews praise the lead performances and the way the story adapts to Indonesian life. IMDb users currently rate it 8.1 from 51 ratings, though that is a small sample.

The Children of Heaven release date in Indonesia was May 27, 2026, and it carries an SU rating, meaning suitable for all ages. That makes it an easy pick for a family outing. The short runtime also helps.

It will not reinvent the genre. But with a clear hook, a likeable pair of leads and Hanung Bramantyo guiding the drama, it looks like a heartfelt watch.

Who Will Enjoy Children of Heaven

• Families looking for an all-ages Indonesian drama with real feeling.

• Fans of the 1997 original who want to see it retold in a new setting.

• Viewers who like small, human stories more than loud spectacle.