Baba

SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2023 REVIEW! Writer-co-star Maziyar Khatam and co-directors Anya Chirkova and Meran Ismailsoy’s odd short film, Baba, is practically a masterclass in character development, particularly for comedies. Of course, I might be overstating this, but take a look, and you decide.

Our story opens with a middle-aged Iranian man (Amir Zavosh) caught in a shouting match with his landlord. The gentleman is behind on his rent, and his neighbors constantly complain about his partying at night. The more the landlord (James Choy) yells, the more the man says he doesn’t understand English.

As soon as his college-age son (Maziyar Khatam) arrives to deal with the landlord, the man ducks off to complete a deal to sell his ex-wife’s sentimental painting. Upon overhearing this, the son protests. But, before you can blink, the buyer arrives for the painting but doesn’t bring the requested amount. The son must now contain his baba (father), get the rent money, and avoid a possible scam from the buyer without melting down.

“…a middle-aged Iranian man [is] caught in a shouting match with the landlord.”

Let’s talk about the master character development within Baba referenced earlier. Baba and his son are set in extreme contrast to one another. Baba is stubborn, toxic, and conniving, while his son is an eager college student in America trying to start life as normally as possible. Khatam’s script places these two contrasting characters in an extreme situation.

The father has essentially given up on life and must pay the piper. The son is caught between trying to support his father and fully knowing that his dad did this to himself. In this extreme situation comes comedy, heart, and an unexpected ending. And, speaking of the conclusion, the filmmakers stay true to their characters to the end while allowing for a moment of growth.

Baba succeeds thanks to a fantastic script by Khatam. Then there’s the excellent direction from Anya Chirkova and Meran Ismailsoy. They shot the whole story in a claustrophobic apartment to great effect. Finally, the re are the great and grounded performances from Khatam and Amir Zavosh as the father. All these elements combined make for an entertaining short film.

Baba screened at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.