San Francisco Chronicle by Jonathan Curiel

Sparrows is a kind of cinematic fable. At times funny, sad, poignant and suspenseful, Sparrows is a showcase for Majidi's masterful storytelling - and Naji's superb acting.

USA Today by Claudia Puig

Naji is an expressive actor, and so are the wonderful young non-pros who play his children.

Salon by Andrew O'Hehir

This latest film from Iranian director Majid Majidi has the same combination of quiet contemplation, whimsy and tragedy that made his "Children of Heaven" an international smash a decade ago.

The New York Times by Stephen Holden

Although The Song of Sparrows has some of the trappings of a naturalistic drama, it is really a series of strict moral lessons pieced together into an austere Islamic sermon.

New York Post by V.A. Musetto

As usual with Majidi, the cinematography is super (best scene shows Karim, disguised as an ostrich, in pursuit of an escaped bird) and the acting is realistic and low-key.

The A.V. Club by Tasha Robinson

It's easier to find enjoyment in Sparrows on a moment-by-moment basis than to swallow its message whole, but that method squares just fine with Majidi's aesthetic, in which tiny, quiet joys are the best kind.

Philadelphia Inquirer by Carrie Rickey

This sparrow's flight lifts the heart.

Village Voice

The film is pleasingly meandering, till the more typically Majidian soulful and teary-eyed climax.

Variety

Beautifully crafted, often sentimental, sometimes humorous.

The Hollywood Reporter

Low-key, realistic performances from a mostly nonpro cast keep the story running smoothly. His face visibly stressed-out and hardened from loneliness as he detaches himself from family and friends, Naji gives the film a strong center.

Los Angeles Times

I can't help but be struck by the stark cultural differences in the portrayal of family life, particularly the relationships between women and men. The characters Majidi draws of children and their fathers are rich: sometimes combative, always loving and textured. But the mothers never truly emerge from the background.

Wall Street Journal by Joe Morgenstern

The Song of Sparrows becomes a parable of corruption, catastrophe and eventual redemption. Mr. Majidi's tale wasn't meant to be timely, of course, but the shoe fits, and the film wears it well.

Village Voice by Nicolas Rapold

The film is pleasingly meandering, till the more typically Majidian soulful and teary-eyed climax.

Variety by Alissa Simon

Beautifully crafted, often sentimental, sometimes humorous.

The Hollywood Reporter by Deborah Young

Low-key, realistic performances from a mostly nonpro cast keep the story running smoothly. His face visibly stressed-out and hardened from loneliness as he detaches himself from family and friends, Naji gives the film a strong center.