Checking out Abi va Rabi: The very first Iranian movie

If you are looking for a deep story with twists and turns, you should probably just skip this one right now. But if you have a soft spot for film history or just like seeing how people used to make fun of each other 90 years ago, it is actually kind of cool.

This is for the people who don't mind a movie that looks like it was filmed through a dusty window. Most modern viewers will probably hate how slow the jokes feel, but there is something sweet about it.

So, the whole thing is about two guys. One is Abi, who is really tall, and the other is Rabi, who is... well, not tall at all. It’s a classic setup.

They go around doing things like eating at a restaurant or visiting a doctor, and everything just goes wrong because of their height. It reminds me a bit of the stuff you see in Henpecked from the same year, where the physical comedy is the whole point.

I found myself staring at the background more than the actors sometimes. Seeing Tehran in 1930 is wild because everything looks so empty and different.

There is this one scene where they are drinking water, and it just keeps going. Like, they drink way more than any human should be able to hold. It’s a very silly gag.

The tall guy, Gholam Ali Sohrabi, has this weird way of walking where he looks like he might tip over at any second. It is not exactly high-level acting, but it works for what they were trying to do.

The director, Ovanes Ohanian, was basically learning how to make a movie while he was making it. You can tell because some of the shots are framed a bit awkwardly, like the top of someone's head is almost cut off.

It doesn't have the polish of something like Strange Cargo, but it has a lot of heart. Or maybe just a lot of energy.

I noticed that the editing is a bit jumpy. Sometimes a character will be on one side of the screen and then suddenly they are on the other without much explanation. It’s a bit disorienting.

There’s a part where they go to a doctor, and the physical comedy gets really frantic. It reminded me of those old Westerns like Fighting Bill, not because of the plot, but because of the raw movement.

The music (if you watch a version with a score added later) usually tries too hard to tell you when to laugh. I think I preferred watching it in silence so I could just focus on the weird facial expressions.

Rabi, the short guy, has this intense stare whenever he gets frustrated. It’s probably the funniest thing in the whole movie, honestly.

I wonder what people in 1930 thought when they saw this on a big screen for the first time. It must have felt like magic, even if it’s just two guys falling over each other.

Sometimes the movie feels like it’s trying to be a travelogue too. They show off these different locations, and the actors just sort of exist in them for a while.

It’s a lot like Michael in the sense that it feels very grounded in its own time period, even if the genres are totally different. You can’t escape the 1930s vibe here.

One thing that bugged me was how some of the gags repeat. They do a joke about the tall guy’s legs, and then five minutes later, they basically do the same joke again. Repetition was big back then, I guess.

There is a strange charm to the costumes. They look like they just grabbed whatever was in their closets that morning. It feels very DIY and personal.

I kept thinking about Being Respectable while watching this, mostly because of how much social norms have changed. In this movie, the humor is so innocent and loud.

The movie is quite short, which is a blessing. If it were two hours long, I think I would have lost my mind. At its current length, it’s a nice little snack of a film.

The way they interact with the extras in the street is funny too. You can see real people in the background just stopping to watch the filming. They look so confused.

It makes the movie feel more like a home video than a professional production. That’s not a bad thing, though.

I wish we had more of the original footage, because some parts are clearly missing or damaged. It adds to the feeling that you are watching a ghost of a movie.

If you enjoy seeing the roots of a culture's cinema, you have to watch it. If you just want to laugh out loud, you might find it a bit dated.

It’s definitely better than some of the boring stuff from that era, like Station Content. At least Abi and Rabi are doing something active.

The physical stunts aren't exactly Jackie Chan level, but for 1930s Iran, they were probably pretty daring. Lots of tripping and bumping into things. 🏃‍♂️

I liked the restaurant scene the most. There is something universally funny about people making a mess in a public place.

The ending doesn't really wrap anything up. It just sort of... stops. It’s very abrupt.

I think Ohanian just ran out of film or money, or maybe he thought that was enough jokes for one day. Either way, it leaves you feeling a bit light-headed.

Overall, I’m glad I watched it. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s a fascinating relic. It’s like finding an old toy in your grandparents' attic that still kind of works.

Don't expect it to change your life. Just let it be what it is: a tall guy and a short guy being silly in the sun. ☀️