Barzakh

I love from start to finish, I thoroughly enjoyed all the episodes. Sanam Saeed and Fawad Khan have absolutely smashed it! All the characters played very well! I'm eagerly waiting for season Two. Set in the Hunza Valley, "Barzakh" centers on a 76-year-old man who surprises his estranged children and grandchildren by announcing his engagement to the ghost of his first love. This revelation triggers a series of emotional confrontations as the family gathers, unsure how to respond to the situation. The six-episode series is produced by Waqas Hassan and Shailja Kejriwal for Zindagi, the Indian subcontinent focused programming block on streamer ZEE5 Global. It is helmed by critically acclaimed director Asim Abbasi who also directed Zindagi's first Pakistani original "Churails" and the feature film "Cake," which was Pakistan's entry for the 2019 Oscars.

It's difficult to tell what makes Barzakh so beautiful-is it the enchanting mountain scenery, the sorrow that fills the Mahtab Mahal, or the love that still drives a demented man after 60 years? Perhaps it is all of these and so much more.

Barzakh denotes the separation of the known from the unknown, living from eternity, sorrow from joy. The themes of human vulnerabilities, grief, and sexism are blended with the mystical ambiance of the hills. The characters are crafted skillfully, and you can see different sides of the same person. The vile and eccentric Jaffar accepts he does not know how to love yet builds a Mahal in memory of his eternal lover. His love brings him back to his roots, but he is always distant from his folks. Love, or the lack of it, and sometimes fear of it, becomes the cause of all actions.

The series drags at points (in the middle episodes), and maybe it could have been shorter, but it demands patience from its viewers. When every scene is poetic, and every word is purposeful, you must absorb them to truly understand the emotions on the screen and feel the same inside you. The show leaves some things deliberately unexplained and you must draw your own explanations on the blank canvas.

Pakistan set a benchmark for their web series in terms of storytelling, production value, art, breaking norms and whatnot. The series is a bit slow which shouldn't be & in final episode needed some shots where the group of people also talking to the angels(their daughters). The story does not just talk about the Barzakh ( in between heaven & Earth ) only it talks about love, honour killing, separation, parenting, Lgbtq, fantasy, old rituals, family relations, feelings and whatnot. Vfx is also good and the execution of scenes is also good in an artistic way a bit feel of live theatre. But sadly the Pakistani awaam is demanding to ban the show, why? Just because it portrays the Gay character. I mean seriously? I mean Pakistan isn't an educated country but it is a peak of uneducated things seriously, on the other hand, they watch adult films, the Game of Thrones, Money Heist, Mirzapur, Sacred Games and every other popular show or film across the world but they can't digest the gay character who isn't even doing any intimate scene in the whole series. They can't fight for army rule, they can't fight for rapes/molestation, they can't fight for berozgaari but they can fight for banning a show who just portrayed the gay character, it's a joke in itself. Whether you accept it or not things exist in this world and they have been in Pakistan too since the beginning. So it's not what you like or whatnot it exists in this world that's why it's here. Grow up get yourself some education and be less rigid and religious fanatic.

I loved the story outline and everything about this series except the fact that it inputs an overdoes of poetic elements that made it an overdone poetry-nut fart.

Especially the stone-bearing deads with their cliche( it became cliche due to the absence of minimalism) imposing character arc. Otherwise, the acting, cinematography, catchy dialogue, gripping pacing, editing, color, BGM - everything was top-notch. The way it unfolds the story seemed a bit predictable, however, it was so beautifully crafted that it didn't matter. The dining scene was remarkable! I could feel the tension in my bones. The homoromantic visualisation deserves claps as it showed 'realistic' representation of queer life in oppressed countries. What an international piece of work! Highly recommended.

Treat to watch such a masterpiece. "Barzakh" is a tour de force that stands out in the realm of Pakistani web series. With its stellar cast, particularly the magnetic pairing of Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed, it offers a compelling narrative wrapped in mystery and enhanced by breathtaking visuals. The series is a testament to the creative potential of Pakistani filmmakers and sets a high standard for future productions. As each episode unfolds, "Barzakh" keeps its audience on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the next installment in this captivating journey through the realms of the unknown.