CAIRO: Scenes in the first Arabic Netflix movie have sparked a public drama as intense as the one that plays out onscreen. On social media and TV talk shows and among friends in Egypt and other Middle East countries, a torrent of critics have denounced the film as a threat to family and religious values, encouraging homosexuality and unfit for Arab societies.
Others have rallied to the film’s defense, saying detractors are in denial about what happens behind closed doors in real life. Those who don’t like the movie, they argue, are free to not subscribe to Netflix or simply skip the film.
Titled “Ashab Wala A’azz,” which means “No Dearer Friends,” the movie is an Arabic version of the Italian hit “Perfect Strangers,” which has inspired many other international remakes.
It tells the story of seven friends at a dinner party gone wrong after the hostess suggests that, as a game, they agree to share any calls, text and voice messages. As smartphones buzz, secrets are revealed, infidelities are exposed and relationships are tested.
The controversy has reignited debates in the region over artistic freedom versus social and religious sensitivities; censorship; what constitutes a taboo in different societies and portrayal of gay characters.
To see those themes broached in an Arabic-language movie with Arab actors went too far for some. (The movie has no nudity; it’s largely an hour and a half of people talking around a dinner table.)
“I think if it’s a normal foreign movie, I will be OK. But because it’s an Arabic movie, I didn’t accept it,” said 37-year-old Elham, an Egyptian who asked for her last name to be withheld due to the sensitivity of the topic. “We don’t accept the idea of homosexuality or intimate relations before marriage in our society, so what happened was a cultural shock.”
Homosexuality is a particularly strong taboo in Egypt: A 2013 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 95 percent in the country say it should be rejected by society; in Lebanon, that number stood at 80 percent at the time.
The movie’s cast are mostly prominent Lebanese stars and its events are set in Lebanon. There, it has garnered many positive reviews.
It’s not the first time that an Arabic-language movie has featured gay characters.
Most famously, the 2006 movie “The Yacoubian Building” with a cast of A-list Egyptian actors caused a stir for, among other things, including a gay main character. But the character was ultimately killed by his lover in what many saw as punishment.
In contrast, the gay character in “Ashab Wala A’azz” is not depicted negatively. Another character encourages him to expose his former employers who let him go for his sexual identity.
Fatima Kamal, a 43-year-old Egyptian, said she didn’t find it to be promoting same-sex relationships. She argued that some Egyptian movies in the past were more daring. “The movie touched on issues that the society refuses to confront but they do happen,” she said. “We all have a dark side and hidden stories.”
Kamal, who has a 12-year-old son, also dismissed the idea the film would corrupt Arab youth.
Talking on a popular TV show, Egyptian lawmaker Mostafa Bakry contended Egyptian and Arab family values are being targeted.
“This is neither art nor creativity,” he said. “We must ban Netflix from being in Egypt” even if temporarily.
Film critic Khaled Mahmoud said Egypt “used to produce powerful and daring movies in the 1960s and 1970s.” But much of that adventurousness has been lost with the trend of so-called “clean cinema.”
First Arabic Netflix film tackles taboos, sparks controversy
https://arab.news/nzwkf
First Arabic Netflix film tackles taboos, sparks controversy
- The controversy has reignited debates in the region over artistic freedom versus social and religious sensitivities; censorship; what constitutes a taboo in different societies and portrayal of gay characters
In the ‘Paris of the Middle East,’ Brigitte Bardot is mourned alongside memories of a golden era
- Bardot’s visit in 1967 coincided with Lebanon’s cultural zenith
- Nation highlighted as center of global style and sophistication
DUBAI, BEIRUT: The death of French film legend Brigitte Bardot at 91 has focused attention on one of the 20th century’s most captivating cultural icons — and a remarkable, if brief, moment when her star power intersected with Lebanon’s own golden age.
In March 1967, Bardot arrived in Beirut for a four-day visit that would briefly place the French screen legend at the heart of a Middle Eastern hotspot of glamor and modernity.
At the time, Beirut was celebrated as the “Paris of the Middle East,” known for its luxuriant hotels, lively nightlife and cosmopolitan mix of cultures.
Mimi Raad, a noted Lebanese image consultant who is the Head of Image Department at MBC1, said to Arab News, “The 60s were considered the Golden Age of Beirut. Lebanese women, known at that time as the most ‘avant-garde’ and stylish women in the Middle East, were fascinated by Brigitte Bardot’s iconic style as well as by her carefree attitude and freedom. The Lebanese high society would look up to the European glamour and Brigitte Bardot was this breath of novelty in style and attitude.”
“Her visits to Lebanon cemented Lebanon's image as a glamorous Mediterranean destination, often compared to Saint-Tropez, reinforcing Beirut's reputation as a cosmopolitan hub and a trendy holiday destination that mirrored the chicest parts of Europe during that era.”
Meanwhile, Lebanese style consultant Hadia Sinno spoke to Arab News about her lifelong admiration of Bardot. “Since I was young, Brigitte Bardot was an icon I deeply admired, not just for her beauty, but for her effortless style, her natural simplicity and that unmistakable French art de vivre. I was always captivated by her look, especially the headbands she wore in her hair and those signature off-the-shoulder tops,” she said.
“For us as Lebanese, there was always a special connection. We have a deep love for French style, and her visit to Lebanon remains a legendary milestone that bridged our two cultures. Beyond the silver screen, she became a force of nature, leading the anti-fur movement that shocked the world and the fashion industry.
“With her flowing skirts, messy hair and playful confidence, she didn’t just wear clothes, she defined an era. A true icon.
“And even though we hadn’t heard much about her in recent years, it was deeply sad to hear of her passing.”
Novelist Hassan Daoud told Arab News, “Beirut at that time was teeming with artistic and cultural life, and some of the city's oldest restaurants still display photographs of famous French and American artists who frequented them.”
Daoud recounted a story from a friend who worked in the General Security Directorate at the time. He said that when Bardot arrived in Beirut by ship and needed to be transferred to a small boat to reach the shore, he helped her by holding her hand. He didn't wash his hands all day so he could retain the feeling of her hand against his own.
Bardot stayed in the famed, five-star Phoenicia Hotel where international celebrities lounged by the pool and rubbed shoulders with jet-set elites. Paparazzi captured her in relaxed celebrity mode by the poolside, emblematic of both her global appeal and Beirut’s vibrant scene.
During her short stay the actress wandered through the old Beirut souk, the bustling marketplace that was then a fusion of merchants selling jewelry, watches, and luxury goods.
She visited Assaad Georges Daou, a jeweler celebrated for designing pieces for royalty and film stars — a testament to Beirut’s reputation as a fashion and style hub in the region.
Bardot also ventured beyond the capital to Byblos, an ancient Phoenician port city with sparkling sea views and historic ruins.
There she strolled the scenic harbor and old souk, sampled local seafood and soaked up seaside leisure that mirrored the relaxed Mediterranean allure she embodied onscreen.
Her departure from Lebanon was part of a Mediterranean cruise. According to some accounts, the voyage was interrupted by mechanical trouble that stranded the vessel briefly at sea.
Researcher and writer Walid Nuwayhid, specializing in philosophy and history, spoke about that era when Beirut was a magnet for actors, artists and intellectuals of various nationalities.
“They came to relax on its famous beaches, including the Saint George pool and the pools in the Ramlet Al-Bayda area, which disappeared with the outbreak of the civil war in the 1970s.
Nuwayhid said, “Famous artists, including Johnny Hallyday, frequented the Phoenicia and Vendome hotels, as well as Zaytouna Street, which was bustling with bars and lively nightlife venues. They also frequented Casino du Liban, the only casino in the Middle East at that time.”
“Lebanon was a location for filming foreign movies and hosted the Beirut International Film Festival. Despite Lebanon's limited resources, the festival held a significant position on the global art scene,” he added.
He further noted, “Beirut Airport was the only major gateway from Europe to Asia at that time. There was no Dubai airport, and Egypt was undergoing socialist nationalization, which prompted the exodus of foreign communities there to leave either to Lebanon or back to Europe. Lebanon was the only refuge because of its openness and the freedom it enjoyed. The generations before us knew the importance of this country, so they built an economy based on providing services that meet needs, it is an economy based on the airport, the port, the printing press, the hospital, the school, and the cafe, all of which provided services to the region and its surroundings, so they left Alexandria and came to Beirut.”
Bardot became a global star after appearing in “And God created Woman” in 1956, and went on to appear in about 50 more movies before retiring in 1973.
Bardot then dedicated over four decades to protecting animals, a mission that resonated with animal welfare groups globally, including in Lebanon.
Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals took to social media to post a heartfelt tribute, greeting her death with “immense sadness” and highlighting her “unwavering commitment” to their mission.
“Today, we say goodbye to Brigitte Bardot — a legendary soul whose love for animals reshaped countless lives. From the silver screen to the front lines of animal welfare, she devoted more than four decades to protecting those who cannot speak for themselves,” the post read.
“Through the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, she turned compassion into action and inspired the world to care more deeply, love more fiercely, and stand up for the voiceless.
“At BETA, we extend our deepest gratitude to Brigitte Bardot and the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for their generous support and unwavering commitment.
“Your kindness strengthened our mission, brought hope where there was despair, and helped save so many precious lives.”
Bardot’s visit left a lasting image of Lebanon as a center of international style and sophistication.
