The importance of the narrative of the lives of the holy defense commanders with a look at the “Ashura” series

Fars News Agency – Radio and TV Group: The 7-episode mini-series “Ashura” directed by Hadi Hejazifar has started airing on Ik Sima channel and 2 episodes have been aired so far. In the “Ashura” series, part of the struggle of the commander of the 31st Ashura Division, Martyr Mehdi Bakri and his brother Hamid Bakri, the deputy commander of the 31st Ashura Division, is depicted in a wider way than the episodic version of the movie “Mahdi’s Situation”. This series, which is an extended version of the movie “Mahdi’s Situation”, airs every Friday night at 10:00 PM.

The movie version of this series, which has been praised by the Supreme Leader of the Revolution, won five awards at the 40th Fajr Film Festival, including the Crystal Simorgh for the best film, and was also able to win the title of the best-selling Holy Defense film in the history of Iranian cinema. . Hadi Hijazifar, Zila Shahi, Vahid Hijazifar, Masoumeh Rabbania, Vahid Aghapour and Ruhollah Zamani are among the actors who play roles in the “Ashura” series.

A poetic narrative of the lives of Bakri brothers

Previously, in the movie version of the “Ashura” series as a work of holy defense, we witnessed the fact that the narration of the story moves forward rather than relying on formal techniques and frameworks and portrays war scenes and battlefield effects, according to the director, it is a poetic narrative. It is from the honorable and noble life of Bakri brothers. Although Hijazi Far has managed well to create the scenes of the battlefield in a way that is believable.

A work that is not similar to the conventional narratives of battle scenes and war situations in the world, nor is it even similar to many works in the field of internal sacred defense. In fact, one of the most important points that will attract the attention of the audience after watching “Mahdi’s Situation” is that in all the sequences of this work, there is a distinction between a conventional war work with international standards and a work attributed to Iran’s sacred defense with all its special features. And we are unique in the daily life of the martyrs of the imposed war.

Abolfazl Safari, the producer of the “Ashura” series, said that the film version of this work is a derivative of the “Ashura” serial version, which deals with the bravery and heroic life of the 31st Ashura Division and especially the martyrs of Bakri. We were going to go further to see how much the story is stretching or how the quality of the performance will be? And after about 30 to 40 minutes of filming, the friends came to the conclusion that the work can be performed in cinema. It is essential that these works are made. Hollywood still makes World War movies once a year. By the way, “Mahdi’s Situation” and “Ashura” showed how attractive a war movie can be. We have no shortage of heroes like Bakri who can be attractive to the audience and people.

He also pointed to the support for making this work and added: This work was banned in the television body in the previous period. I have clearly stated in an interview and I will say again that we were subjected to strange pressures, but the head of the organization solved many issues and without his support the film “Mahdi’s Situation” would have gone nowhere. Dr. Jabali, with a correct understanding of the conditions and high commitment he has to martyrdom, the culture of martyrdom and resistance, stood up to this work and the work came to a conclusion.

Mojtaba Shakri, assistant professor of Cultural Studies and Communication Research Institute of Human Sciences and Cultural Studies Research Institute, believes that broadcasting the TV version of Holy Defense films such as Mahdi’s situation can be attractive to national media audiences. Mojtaba Shakri said about the factors involved in the effectiveness of these series in attracting the audience: First of all, everything depends on the structure of the film itself. Some films contain sub-narratives, each of which can independently have its own impact on the audience and at the same time, together, narrate the main story.

The serial broadcast of the film is more attractive than showing it on the cinema screen

This assistant professor of the Institute of Cultural Studies and Communication of the Research Institute of Human Sciences and Cultural Studies emphasizes: broadcasting movies in the form of serials can be even more attractive for the audience than watching them on the cinema screen. From this point of view, not only the film Mahdi’s situation, but other works of the Holy Defense genre that have chain narratives can be broadcast in the form of mini-series on TV. These miniseries can be attractive especially for those who are not movie goers and have not seen the original version of the movie.

Emphasizing the necessity of making a film about the holy defense commanders, Shakri says: They protect national capitals all over the world. The capital of all the nations of the world are their heroes. Locomotive heroes are considered to be the leaders of the society, especially the young generation. The story of the lives of these heroes gives courage to young people and opens new and bright horizons in front of them. On the other hand, it prepares young people to accept the great responsibilities they have in the future.

Narrating the life of commanders as a historical heritage

He points out: We have an urgent need to narrate the lives of the holy defense commanders as a historical heritage. Sometimes it is even necessary to narrate an epic and event from different angles, because paying from one angle may not be able to do justice to the story.

Emphasizing that the origin of the holy defense heroes is religious and Ashura, this cultural expert states: According to the words of martyr Haj Qasim Soleimani, we are the nation of Imam Hussein (AS).

Shakri mentions why the films of Defence Magdisi are not made despite the people’s acceptance of these works: a full umbrella of support has not yet been placed over the committed screenwriters and directors of this field. Unfortunately, we still have influence in the process of storytelling and screenwriting. Many only think about the box office.

He emphasizes: special attention should be paid to war heroes. This issue is very important and it is necessary for all the relevant and involved organizations and institutions, such as the Ministry of Guidance and the Broadcasting Organization, to enter in this field.

This cultural expert adds: In addition to a good story and screenplay, the production of films and TV series of holy defense also requires hardware facilities such as special effects. The budget for the production of these works should be provided and the producers should be supported. It is necessary for everyone to be mobilized for the creation of works of sacred defense, and especially the elders and experts in this field should be used not only in the production work but also as consultants.

Shakri clarifies: When these seniors start making a film or series, they will be stuck in that project for a long time and even for a few years, while I think it is better to get help from these experts and experts as advisors and supervisors rather than young artists. And more interested people can be engaged in this field, and significant drama works in the genre of sacred defense can be formed.

Shakri also believes about the weekly broadcast of the Ashura series that “the weekly broadcast of a series can be appropriate, but on the condition that it is repeated during the week. Especially in the late hours of the night, when the audience can watch their favorite series with peace and tranquility.”

In the following, you can watch part of the behind-the-scenes of “Mahdi’s Situation”, the movie version of the “Ashura” series:

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