If you aren't part of the Persian community, or peripheral to it, then you probably haven't seen this pure, flawless, one of a kind, sparkling gem. Mehran Modiri, get's credit for this one, for all great and appropriate reasons- he's a writer, director, actor, and I have to imagine 50 other things on this show, both credited and not credited. But he isn't alone, and this is one of the truths that make Shabehe Bahrareh one of the greatest comedies of all time, anywhere on the planet.
This is an ensemble comedy, taken up by a gang of some of the funniest actors, if you aren't Persian, you've never heard of. Comedy is renowned to be one of the most difficult performances to pull off successfully, and the troop of actors that Modiri finds himself at the center of are some of the very best comedic actors to be found. Comedy should be poignant, clever, silly but appropriate to context, and timed perfectly. There are lots of amazing actors all over the world that are well practiced at this. The stars of this beautiful series, though, add something very special to the mix- I think they genuinely love each other, and you can see clearly how much fun they are having with each other as they perform. This brings a kind of full-hearted sincerity to the program, that is missing in so many other, albeit, wonderful comedies. This ensemble is a family of friends, who tease and poke fun at each other, and when you spend time with them, you become part of the family, and part of the fun, as well.
I was extremely fortunate to have caught this program while spending time in Central Asia, because when it aired, it came with English subtitles. There are ways to stream this show today, which is brilliant, but what I wouldn't give to find a version somewhere with English subtitles intact! For some reason, none of the available options to watch this show now include English subtitles (though, if anyone out there knows of one that does, please make it known to the rest of us!)
My greatest wish is that this particular show be watched by Americans and others who have some preconceived notions about the people of the Middle East, or Iran. Art has this peculiar way of leveling playing fields and of reminding us that we're all in this life and this world together. Shabheye Bahrareh is one of those rare artistic productions that has the power to simultaneously transcend both the frustrating mundanity and urgency of life to show us how special life, and all of what life is comprised of, can be when we share it with each other, when we are able to laugh at it, and especially when we are able to laugh at ourselves. How much enjoyment we could take in one another, if we only stopped now and again to appreciate how similar we all are and how much fun life is because we are also not so similar.
Nobody is spared a clever, joyful, barb here or there in this comedic masterpiece, and you won't at all mind if some of those come at your own expense as well. The world, like Bahrareh, is really just a small village where life and love and drama unfold, and by poking fun at it all, it reminds us with genuine laughter that we're all human, we're all wonderfully imperfect, and most importantly, like the show itself, life is woefully too short.
