Cast: Shahab Hosseini, Nathalie Matti, Roya Teymourian
Madare Sefr Daraje is a 2007 Iranian historical drama series inspired by the true story of Abdol Hussein Sardari, an Iranian diplomat stationed in Paris who risked his career and safety to protect lives during one of history's darkest chapters, weaving a tender cross-cultural love story through the upheaval of World War II.
What is Madare Sefr Daraje about?
Set against the backdrop of occupied Paris during World War II, the series follows an Iranian-Palestinian Muslim diplomat at the Iranian embassy who falls into a profound and forbidden bond with a French Jewish woman. As the Nazi occupation tightens its grip on the city, their relationship becomes both a private refuge and a precarious risk. The diplomat, drawing on his position and moral conviction, quietly works to shield Jewish families from persecution — a mission that puts everything he holds dear in jeopardy. The story unfolds with restraint and emotional depth, tracing how love, duty, and conscience collide when the stakes could not be higher.
The K-Time take
Madare Sefr Daraje stands out in Iranian television for its willingness to engage seriously with European history from a Persian perspective. The production balances the intimate emotional arc of its central relationship with the wider moral weight of the Holocaust era, achieving a tone that is neither exploitative nor detached. Shahab Hosseini delivers a performance of quiet authority that anchors the series throughout.
Cast & crew
Shahab Hosseini, one of Iranian cinema's most celebrated actors and a two-time Cannes best actor laureate, leads the cast as the diplomat at the heart of the story. Nathalie Matti brings warmth and complexity to the French Jewish woman whose life intersects with his, while Roya Teymourian adds further depth to the ensemble in a supporting role.
Context & significance
For Iranian diaspora viewers, Madare Sefr Daraje carries a particular resonance — it reclaims a largely forgotten chapter of Iranian humanitarian history and presents it through the language and sensibility of Persian television. The story of Sardari has sometimes been called Iran's Schindler, and this series brings that legacy to a broad audience. The cross-cultural love story at its centre also speaks to the experiences of diaspora communities navigating identity between cultures. As a co-production touching on Jewish and Muslim themes, it was considered a bold artistic and diplomatic statement at the time of its broadcast.
Where & how to watch
Madare Sefr Daraje is available on K-Time in original Persian audio. Stream it on the web, on your TV, or on your phone — no VPN needed, no geo-blocking, no extra download required. Subscribe and cancel anytime.