For weeks I
told my 4.5 year old son that the two of us would go
to Hollywood to attend the
screening of Babak and Friend “A First Norooz.” Ashkaan is beginning
to
understand
the concept of “Norooz.” He speaks and understands both English and Persian
well but I really wanted to take him to the screening and let him experience
the event. We
planned everything just right. I talked to my friend, Shabnam Rezaei and
were excited to go
and see the “Norooz
Dar Hollywood” as Ashkaan referred to the event.
He was excited
about watching Norooz in Hollywood and I was excited
to see the hard labor of
Dustin (film’s creator) and Shabnam, meet my favorite actors,
Sayyad and Aghdashloo in person and listen to Andy’s
live performance.
Then the day came,
March 3rd. It rained in Southern California…again.
My son was ill with a slight cold.
Both of us were upset but I explained to him that due to the rain and his cold, we would have to stay home but that the “Norooz Dar Hollywood” would
come to our home on DVD.
At first he was
puzzled. “How does that work?” he
asked.
Now, Ashkaan,
like all 4.5 old boys and girls in this country understands
DVD. Whether it is “Winnie the Pooh” or “Teletubbies”,
these kids get the idea that DVD brings fun and entertainment
but DVD for Ashkaan always meant fun in English.
My cousin did go to the screening and bought me the film on DVD.
Again, I was excited
and wanted to rush home and show “Babak” to Ashkaan.
After his dinner, 2 hours ago, we sat and watched the
movie.
…and we had fun first with the Persian version!
…and we had fun again with the English version!
I am not a movie
critic but I give this film 4 star for explaining “Norooz” to
our youngsters, and older folks like me, with the sizzle
and entertaining
mindset that I have never seen done in the U.S. for our
kids.
As I said I am
not a movie critic and for this movie, I would not trust
reading any movie critic’s view. The only true critics of “First Norooz” are
the kids, our kids. Trust them as I trusted my son!
My son, Ashkaan
loved it. He laughed with the Persian version and asked
me many questions about “Charshanbe-Soori”, “Haft-Seen” and “Noon O Panir.” I
knew the movie had achieved its goal when we saw the English version following
the Persian version and my son began to tell me about the scenes before they
came on the screen.
We missed going
to the screening in Hollywood but the DVD brought Hollywood
and “Norooz” to
our home.
Once the movie was over and my family had seen both versions of it and viewed each music video 4 times, my son turned to me and asked:
“Baba, mishe emsal berim Charshanbe Soori?” (Daddy,
could we go for the Charshane Soori celebration this year?)
I was filled with
joy at that moment. I was proud of the work done by Dustin,
Shabnam and their
team and was pleased with my son’s reaction to the film.
If you live in
Orange County and Southern California, and if you come
to “Charshane Soori” celebration
next to the beach, chances are you would find the two of
us along with thousands of others who will celebrate the
night.
In that case,
look for a happy father and his 4.5 year old son having
fun and jumping over “Boteh” and
singing:
”Zardi man az
to, Sorkhi to az man!”
Once you did find
us, come and say hi. Don’t be shy!
Thank you Dustin! Thank you Shabnam!
Thank you Babak! |
Watching
Babak's “First Norooz” With Ashkaan!