#REVIEW: “THE PERSIAN VERSION”

Review by George Kozera for Mr. Will Wong

Inspired by events in her personal life, Writer/Director Maryam Keshavarz‘s THE PERSIAN VERSION finally arrives on the big screen after its award-winning festival run, including a stop at the Sundance Film Festival. This Movie straddles the Dramedy genre with aplomb, finesse and with intelligence and humour that, by the end, I was elated.

Leila (Layla Mohammadi) is a modern, free-willed Iranian-American woman. Recently divorced from her wife and pursuing a career in filmmaking (plus being the only girl among eight brothers) every decision she makes adds fuel to the fire of her contentious relationship with her mother Shirin (Niousha Noor), a very successful real estate agent. At a Halloween party, an inebriated Leila has sex with Maximillian (Tom Byrne), still dressed in his drag queen outfit from his lead role on Broadway in “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” and it’s easy to guess what happens after that assignation! Meanwhile, Leila‘s father Doctor Ali Reza (Bijan Daneshmand) is getting a heart transplant. Shirin tells Leila to leave the hospital (although her brothers are there) and instead take care of her grandmother Mamanjoon (Bella Warda).

To Leila‘s surprise, Mamanjoon brings up a family scandal. THE PERSIAN VERSION is an immensely vibrant and entertaining tour-de-force that spans 50 years and two continents (with Toronto making a cameo appearance!). The performances by the Cast are captivating (with Mohammadi and Noor being the standouts for their fierce, funny and tragic portrayals). The few dance sequences are effervescent, and Director Keshavarz skillfully intersperses the comedic breaking the fourth-wall moments with heart-rending and provocative dramatic backstories set in Iran while seamlessly spanning decades and consistently keeping the movie’s tone intact. The Cinematography is vivid and the soundtrack consisting of American pop and Persian songs add layers to a movie that is already stuffed to the gills with memorable moments. The brilliant Screenplay may touch on immigrant families adapting to new lives in a frightening and unfamiliar environment, but it is significantly more than that. It celebrates womanhood with all their strengths and obstacles. THE PERSIAN VERSION is high on my list as one of the best movies of 2023.

Mongrel Media release THE PERSIAN VERSION October 20, 2023.