Barzakh Review: Visually Stunning & Refreshingly Artistic Mystical
Barzakh means a place in-between. The stage between death and resurrection. The kingdom between paradise and hell. Barzakh series is stuck between perfection and promise!
Barzakh is an ambitious web series of love, longing and loss from across the border. Beautifully composed on a canvas, awesomely shot in beautiful locales and an outstanding ensemble cast with superlative performances – Barzakh is wonderfully designed.
A super wealth patriarch Jafar invites his estranged sons for his third marriage to his first love Mahtab. It is just that Mahtab is dead, and Jafar believes she will meet him on the other side. His two sons have a difficult relationship with him while the villagers demand access to atrium of his palatial ‘Land Of Nowhere’ house.
Strained family ties, postpartum depression, challenges of caregiving, parenting issues, mental health, toxic patriarchy – all topics are showcased by rich characters. All this in the backdrop of red-draped fairies, pink souls with baggage, special girl and other supernatural themes.
Loved the Gibran Rumi type quotes, breathtaking Hunza valley, carefully crafted visuals and metaphor rich depictions. And of course, the superlative acting of the terrific trio of Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed and Salman Shahid! The Zindagi Gulzar Hai pair is adorable.
Yet, inspite of all its positives, it fails to make an impact and achieve its true potential – perhaps it is trying to achieve too much.
Barzakh is intelligent, brave, unique and highly creative. It grows on you and will stay with you – not every series can claim that!
Watch it with loads of patience!