Al Daly: An Egyptian Ramadan Serie reminding of Hariri's assassination

Al Daly

Director: Yousif Sharaf Al Deen
TV Channel: LBC (Lebanese channel)

Cast: Noor Al-Sharif (known Egyptian actor), Sawsan Bader, Mahmoud Al Jundi, Salah Abdullah, Salah Rashwan, Muhammad Metwali, Osama Abas, Wafa Salim

Genre: Drama

About the TV Serie: The series is about the changing of political, social and economic issues between the years 1979 and 1992. The drama stars prominent Egyptian actor Noor El Sharif, who plays the role of a well-known politician that faces assassination. There is a great deal of speculation around who could be this Sa’ed Al Daly representing in real life. [...]
The character Sa’ed Al Daly is thought to represent the late engineer Othman Ahmad Othman, the founder of the company “Arab Distributors” and the Minster of housing during the late Egyptian president term Anwar Al Sadat. But many believe that the character in fact is more similar to that of the late Prime Minister of Lebanon Rafiq El Hariri. However, both assumption may be true and the character could be portraying other well-know political personalities in the Arab world. [...]

Source: Albawaba.com (Jordan)

A Ramadan TV Comedy

Ghashamsham 2

Director:Ayman Shykhany (Syrian director)

TV Channel: Dubai TV

Cast: Fahd Al-Hayyan (Saudi Actor)

Genre: Comedy

About the TV Serie:

Slapstick comedy at its regional finest. In the first series our ‘hero’ was away from home experiencing the world. In this second series, we catch up with Rasheed Al Hoierish back in his village, where little has changed other than himself. The juxtaposition of his naivety and bad luck against the know how of other people place him in everyday situations that lead to hilarious mishaps and misunderstandings with a lesson of life to be learned from each episode.

Source: http://ramadan.jumptv.com/

Saudi Theater Grows, but Women are Still Sidelined

"An official of the Ministry of Culture and Information said that the ministry is pushing to have theatrical plays year-round instead of just during Eid and other special occasions. But some are pointing out that Saudi theater is still a predominantly man’s world. [...]

"Riyadh and other cities host cultural events for Eid for which plays are a large part of the programs. But for the rest of the year, plays are few and far between, despite the demand. 'Saudis will drive 100 miles to attend a play', said Mohammed Alahmed, deputy director at King Saud University’s College of Fine Arts, which performs 15 to 20 plays each year. [...]

"Saudi theater was born in 1960 with the play 'Fateh Makkah' ('Capturing Makkah'), but for the most part the art form has, like many fine arts in the Kingdom, been sidelined despite the social demand. And unlike movie theaters, plays are more or less socially acceptable, even among the most conservative members of society — provided of course that the themes and dialogue are acceptable and in deference to male audience members and gender segregation is upheld.

"Abdullah Alamer, producer of the women’s play 'Newsan Net', which is showing at King Fahd cultural Center this Eid, said to Arab News that plays for women are increasing. ('Newsan Net' revolves around the theme of women using the Internet as a venue for social interactions.) 'The plays receive remarkable response among women', said Alamer, adding that the success of these plays reflects Saudi women’s hunger to see their issues played out on stage.

"Saudi actress Agadeer Alsaead believes women need more venues for acting and attending. 'Our goal is to talk to women', she said, underscoring the point that as of yet women are still not given equal chances to perform to attend theatrical performances. For example, out of the 10 plays being scheduled in Riyadh for Eid, seven are for men only and two are being performed for children. Only one of the plays is for women."

Source: Arab News (Saudi Arabia), October 9, 2007 by Najah Alosaimi

The first ever Saudi movie

Keif Al Hal (How is it going?, 2006)

Director: Izidore K. Musallam
Script Writer: Bilal Fadl

Cast: Hesham El Haweesh, Mees Hamdan, Khaled Samy, Turky El Youssef

Release Date: November 9, 2006
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Country: Saudi Arabia
Time: 95 min

About the Movie: Keif Al Hal, produced by the Rotana Group, is a comedy-drama depicting the tension between moderates and conservatives in the Kingdom and the conflict experienced by the young as they try to embrace globalization, while retaining cherished Islamic values. Source: Arab News (Saudi Arabia)

Read Also:

• "All eyes on Saudi movie being filmed in Dubai" , Gulf News
• "Saudi Actress Hind Muhammad Praised for Role in Movie", Arab News
• Arab films at Cannes tackle taboos, Al Jazeera

About the Director: Izidore K. Musallam, born in Haifa, now lives and works in Toronto, Canada. He graduated with a BFA in film production from York University in Toronto and has written, produced and directed a number of feature films.

Saudi Filmmakers Explore Film Genres

"SAUDIS now want to be part of the region’s filmmaking industry. Those who have achieved something have proved they are tough, reliable and strong enough to stay and welcome others as they develop.

The passion for filmmaking among Saudis has spread, especially in the past four years. It probably began when Haifa Al-Mansour, the first-ever Saudi filmmaker, produced a seven-minute short film entitled 'Who'.

Following her debut, the old belief that filming in Saudi Arabia had no future began to die. Advertising agencies started to support and nurture young talent and now the Saudi film industry is growing. This summer has been witness to the birth of three films that have been produced, directed and played by Saudis.

The movie — 'The Forgotten Village' — is a horror movie by Abdullah Abu Talib. It premiered in Cairo on Aug. 21. The documentary on Saudis in the US by Fahmi Farahat debutted on Sept. 8 in Los Angeles. The short film, entitled 'Stick With It' premiered in Jeddah and has been directed by Anggi Makki."

Source: Arab News (Saudi Arabia), August 30, 2007 by Razan Baker

Arab movies awarded at San Sebastian Film Festival

Arab directors took the biggest share of interest at San Sebastian Film Festival. The organizers awarded the Palestinian movie “Salt of this sea” to his director Anne Marie Jacir along with the Jordan’s “Recycle” to Mahmoud Al Massad. Both directors shared the Cinema in Movement award. As result of this award, both directors will have the opportunity to make final touches to their cinematographic projects. As concerned the Palestinian’s “Salt of this sea”, a consistent help will be given by the Moroccan Cinematographic center in addition to a financial aid amounting to (21,150 US dollars).

On the other Hand, the Jordanian “Recycle” will receive the same amount of money in addition to a technical help dealing with post- production work at the National Center of French Cinematography. His director expressed his joy for this personal achievement “The “I am very honored to have received this award," said Al Massad”. The Cinema in Movement award was open to works from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia and Portuguese-speaking African countries and offered jointly by the San Sebastian, Freiburg, Amiens and Tarifa film festivals. The aim is to "produce unfinished films and act as an effective bridge between professionals, firms and institutions" in these countries, and those in Europe and Latin America.

Source: Echoroukonline.com (Algeria)

A Sensual, Touching and Sophisticated movie from Lebanon

Caramel (Original title Sukar Banat, 2007)

Director: Nadine Labaki
Script Writer: Rodney El Haddad, Jihad Hojeily, Nadine Labaki

Cast: Nadia Labaki (Layale), Yasmine Al masri (Nisrine), Joanna Moukarzel (Rima), Gisele Aouad (Jamale), Adel Karam (Youssef), Siham Haddad (Rose), Aziza Semaan (Lili), Fatme Safa (Siham),Dimitri Stancofski (Charles), Fadia Stella (Christine), Ismail Antar (Bassam).

Release Date: Premiered on March 20 during the 2007 Cannes Film Festival
Genre: Drama
Country: Lebanon
Time: 95 min
Music: Mouzanar
Movies' Official website: http://www.caramel-lefilm.com/

About the Movie: In the title of Caramel, Labaki refers to an epilation method used in the Middle east and North Africa to wax the body, using heated sugar, water and lemon juice.

"Caramel is the first feature from director-cum-actor Nadine Labaki, is a film about the lives and loves of six Lebanese women. As the title suggests, it's a sweet-natured romantic comedy, one centered on a Beirut beauty parlor, the three twentysomething women who work there and three somewhat-older ladies who are part of their circle.

"After setting the ambiance of the salon itself, each character becomes the center of her own story, all related to matters of the heart. The main character, Layale (Labaki) is struggling through an affair with a married man. Nisrine (Yasmine al-Masri), the film's designated Muslim character, is happily (evidently chastely) engaged but, as you eventually learn, is also worried because she isn't a virgin. Indifferent to men, Rima (Joanna Moukarzel) is beginning to awaken to her fondness for women, thanks to a customer (played by Fatme Safa) whose name is kept from you.

"One of the salon's incessant clients, Jamale (Gisele Aouad) is a fretfully aging mother trying to launch a career in television. The seamstress who lives near the salon, Rose (Sihame Haddad), has chosen spinsterhood in order to take care of her batty older sister Lili (Aziza Semaan). Herself a piece of romantic wreckage, Lili once had a relationship with a French soldier during the Mandate era, but all his letters were kept from her, so she wanders around the quarter collecting bits of paper as if trying to recover them.

"Rounding out the cast is a trio of male caricatures, love interests for each of the six women. The only man who is allotted some screen time (if not depth exactly) is Youssef (Adel Karam), an awkward, mustachioed cop who is particularly attentive in enforcing the law around Layale. [...]" Source: Jim Quilty, 'Caramel' delves into Lebanon's matters of the heart, The Daily Star (Lebanon), August 9, 2007

About the Director: Nadine Labaki, born in 1974, a well-known Lebanese acress and director. To know more about her:

http://www.lebanonlinks.com/society/nadine_labaki.html

Nadine Labaki's Official website: http://www.nadinelabaki.com/

Nostalgic Ramadan serial about Egyptian expatriates in America

Hanan Wa Haneen (Tenderness and Compassion)

Director: Inas Bakr

Tv Channel: Orbit (Orbit Satellite Television and Radio Network, http://www.orbit.net/)

Cast: Omar Sharif, Sawsan Badr, Ahmed Ramzi
Genre: Drama

About the TV Serie: Starring Hollywood legend, Omar Sharif; contemporary drama about an engineer who emigrates to the US to build a successful career after suffering a severe emotional breakdown in his home country. However, the nostalgia and love of his home country follows him until the end. The film was shot between Cairo, Alexandria and New York. Source: http://www.mebjournal.com/

The Cartoon for all Seasons

Freej (Neighbourhood)

Created by: Mohammed Saeed Harib
TV Channel: Dubai TV
Characters: Um Saloom, Um Khammas, Um Saeed, Um Allawi

About the cartoon: "Freej, the Middle East’s first 3D animated series is the brainchild of Mohammed Saeed Harib [...]. Freej is the tale of four old national women living in a secluded neighborhood in modern day Dubai. The show’s main characters; Um Saeed, Um Saloom, Um Allawi and Um Khammas try to live a peaceful life in the midst of the ever-expanding city around them, but the city’s boom unveils new social issues every day that they would have to tackle solve in their own simple way. For those four old women, there is no issue too hard to crack with a good cup of coffee at Um Saeed’s house. [...]" Source: http://freej.ae/

Official Website: http://freej.ae/

Egyptian Ramadan serie dealing with sexual abuse

Qadeyat Ra'i A'am (A case of public opinion)

Director: Mohamed Azizia
TV Channel: Dubai TV
Cast: Youssra (famous and beautiful Egyptian actress), Samir Sabri, Gamal Ismail, Sami El Adl
Genre: Drama

About the TV Serie: "Youssra plays Abla Abdel-Rahman, head of the pediatric department at Qasr Al Aini Hospital, the perfect wife and mother of two, who is kidnapped and raped while driving home with a fellow female physician and a pregnant nurse.

"The hospital from which they have set off is distant, they are late; and the three armed rapists find it relatively easy to accomplish their task. When the nightmare is over the women return to their lives - only to realise they have an even worse nightmare ahead of them: the very, very complicated task of how to deal with what happened.

"The storyline recounts how each goes about resolving the dilemma of whether to report the incident and take on the incumbent shame or to keep it a secret and suffer the psychological damage in isolation. But when the nurse loses her child and goes into a coma as a result, Abdel-Rahman decides to broach the issue.

"Bad move, apparently: her decision to report the incident to the police instantly stigmatises Abdel-Rahman, whose very husband - a fellow doctor who is happy to perform miscarriages illegally but won't accept the shame of his wife's body having been violated - can no longer live with her. Initially he gives her the choice of directing him back to where the rape took place or separating, but then he decides the sheer humiliation she has brought upon him and the children is unbearable." [...]

Source: Al Ahram Weekly Online, September 20-26, 2007

MBC cancelled a sensitive TV serie on "temporary marriage" after Kuwaiti ban

Lil Khataya Thaman (Sins have a Price)

Before the beginning of the month of Ramadan MBC announced Monday that it would "cancel a controversial TV series scheduled to air in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan after Kuwaiti authorities banned the program.The new series, 'Lil Khataya Thaman' or (Sins have a Price), is based on the sensitive issue of "temporary marriage" - a practice unique to Shiite Islam. [...]

"But MBC – the parent company of Al Arabiya News Channel – said the series did not contain any offensive content and did not mean to insult any religious sect. The company also said the series was attacked before it was screened. [...]

"Kuwaiti newspapers had earlier hinted at the upcoming ban, saying some Shiites viewed the series as a direct insult to their beliefs in the way it portrayed the issue of temporary marriage ('zawaaj al-mutaa'). But the show's producer, Nayef Al Rashed, said the series was simply misunderstood.'We discuss the way temporary marriage, permitted under the Jafaari [Shiite] sect, is misused, but we also present examples of people who use it in the right way', Rashed said.

"Al Rashed said he in no way meant to insult the Jafaari beliefs and insisted he would never raise issues that would trigger sectarian strife or social unrest. According to Al Rashed, Sins have a Price is a social drama that profiles the lives of men and women who misunderstand Islam, and tackles a variety of topical issues such as civil marriage, disobedience of parents, and other behaviors that he described as 'intrusions into Gulf society'. [...]"

See MBC Videos on the TV Serie in You Tube:

• Video 1
• Video 2

Source: AlArabiya.net , September 10, 2007

Popular MBC Ramadan TV series

Read the article "Ramadan: On the Small Screen" by Hussein Shobokshi
in Asharq Al Awsat newspaper.


Baini we Beinak (Between Us)

Director: Saed Al Huwari
TV Channel: MBC (Saudi-run comapny broadcasting, headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, http://www.mbc.net/)
Cast: Rashed Al Shamrani, Fayez Malki and Hasan Aseeri
Genre: Comedy

About the TV serie: A Comedy series that tells the story of three men, each leading a different lifestyle. Mifreh, who lives in a small village, enjoys the normal and quiet life. Miz’al, on the other hand, lives a miserable life in the dessert. He lives in poverty and has to deal with his horrible wife. As for Tarek, he lives the life of the city. Source: http://ramadan.jumptv.com/

Tash Ma Tash 15

TV Channel: MBC
Cast: Nasser Al Qasabi, Abdullah Al Sadhan
Genre: Comedy
About the TV serie: Tash ma Tash is a satire comedy series [aired for 15 years] that covers various social matters in the Saudi community. In each episode, the two stars of the show, Abdullah Al Sadhan and Naser Al Qasabi, presents different characters facing different issues from the Saudi community. Source: http://ramadan.jumptv.com/

Bab El Hara (The Neighborhood’s Gate)

Director: Basam Al Mula
TV Channel: MBC
Cast: Abbas El Nouri, Mona Wassef
Genre: Drama
About the TV Serie: The events of this series take place in 1929 in a small neighborhood called Al Dabe’ located in the City of Al Sham in Syria. After a theft incident that takes place in the neighborhood, many dramatic incidents follow like murders, accusations and injust in that once peaceful village. Source: http://ramadan.jumptv.com/

Al Malik Farouq (King Farouq)

Director: Hatem Ali
TV Channel: MBC
Cast: Tim Hassan, Mineh Al Fadali, Izat Abu Aouf, Wafa’ Amer, Mahmoud Juneidi

Genre: History/ Drama
About the TV Serie: This series tells the story of the last king of Egypt (Farouq I) starting from the day he was born till his burial that took place in Egypt. Source: http://ramadan.jumptv.com/