The Arabic adaptation of hit Italian movie “Perfect Strangers,” which is Netflix’s first Arab original film, is sparking controversy in Egypt and across West Asia due to a gay character and taboo-breaking storylines, prompting the U.S. streaming giant to respond.
Since its release, the Beirut-set “Perfect Strangers” redo has been among the top trending topics on social media in West Asia, a region also referred to as the Middle East. Reactions have been especially strong in Egypt where the pic has sparked a chorus of outrage for allegedly promoting homosexuality and immorality, leading to formal complaints being lodged to the country’s authorities, as well as a massive outpour of support.
Netflix, acknowledging the controversy for the first time, on Tuesday issued the following statement to Variety: “‘Perfect Strangers’ is a fictional story that explores universal themes without taking a moral stand, instead inviting the audience to have an open dialogue and debate.
Since its release, the Beirut-set “Perfect Strangers” redo has been among the top trending topics on social media in West Asia, a region also referred to as the Middle East. Reactions have been especially strong in Egypt where the pic has sparked a chorus of outrage for allegedly promoting homosexuality and immorality, leading to formal complaints being lodged to the country’s authorities, as well as a massive outpour of support.
Netflix, acknowledging the controversy for the first time, on Tuesday issued the following statement to Variety: “‘Perfect Strangers’ is a fictional story that explores universal themes without taking a moral stand, instead inviting the audience to have an open dialogue and debate.
- 1/25/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
"I'm not part of that plan anymore!" ITN Movies has released a new US trailer for an action movie titled Desert Strike, made by Egyptian filmmaker Raouf Abd El Aziz and first released in Egypt last year under the original title Pharaoh's War. This looks like absolute trash, and I guess that's the point - it seems like they just wanted to make a big, dumb Egyptian action film. An ex-military man with a mysterious past leads a group of Egyptian refugees through the desert and must protect them from a group of evil mercenaries. Desert Strike stars Mike Tyson and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, both of whom are laughably bad in this, and also features Mahmood Abdulmughni, Rubi, Amr Saad, and Ahmed Fahmy. This looks So bad it's hard to even finish watching the trailer but luckily it's free to watch and will likely give you a good laugh. Here's...
- 12/17/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
At the El Gouna Film Festival, Ahmed Fahmy’s iProductions has announced that three new feature films – “Abu Saddam,” “Have You Drunk From The Nile” and “Troubled Omar” – are to go into production from November and run to the end of next year.
Additionally, iProductions has announced that shooting has recommenced on their new fantasy drama television series “Wadi Al Jinn,” in collaboration with Viu platform, scheduled to premiere on Viu next year, and the building of new cinemas in Egypt.
“Have You Drunk From The Nile,” to be directed by Khaled Diab, heads the slate. The movie reunites the team behind Cannes entry “Clash,” with that film’s helmer Mohamed Diab as well as Sherine Diab co-scripting alongside the director. The crime caper stars Mostafa Khater and Hamdi El-Mirghani as two drug dealers who run off with a large shipment of heroin belonging to a crime kingpin.
Egyptian writer and director Nadine Khan,...
Additionally, iProductions has announced that shooting has recommenced on their new fantasy drama television series “Wadi Al Jinn,” in collaboration with Viu platform, scheduled to premiere on Viu next year, and the building of new cinemas in Egypt.
“Have You Drunk From The Nile,” to be directed by Khaled Diab, heads the slate. The movie reunites the team behind Cannes entry “Clash,” with that film’s helmer Mohamed Diab as well as Sherine Diab co-scripting alongside the director. The crime caper stars Mostafa Khater and Hamdi El-Mirghani as two drug dealers who run off with a large shipment of heroin belonging to a crime kingpin.
Egyptian writer and director Nadine Khan,...
- 10/24/2020
- by Kaleem Aftab
- Variety Film + TV
Late Egyptian composer's heir is suing the rap mogul over a sample he included in his 2000 hit.
By Alvin Blanco
Jay-z
Photo: Neil Mockford/ Getty Images
"Big Pimpin' " was a smash hit for Jay-z in 2000, but in 2011 it's causing him some big legal headaches. The Hollywood Reporter revealed first that on Tuesday, California federal judge Christina Snyder ruled that plaintiff Osama Ahmed Fahmy has a right to pursue a lawsuit that names Jay-z, Emi Publishing, MTV Networks, Umg Recordings, Warner Music and various other entities as defendants.
Although Jay-z cleared the sample used in "Big Pimpin'," which features Texas rap legends Ugk, the copyright lawsuit claims that, according to Egyptian law, the song violates the "moral rights" of it original composer.
The Timbaland-produced "Big Pimpin'," from Jay-z's Vol. 3 ... The Life & Times of S. Carter album, samples "Khosara, Khosara," which was composed by Baligh Hamdy for the 1960 Egyptian film Fata Ahlami.
By Alvin Blanco
Jay-z
Photo: Neil Mockford/ Getty Images
"Big Pimpin' " was a smash hit for Jay-z in 2000, but in 2011 it's causing him some big legal headaches. The Hollywood Reporter revealed first that on Tuesday, California federal judge Christina Snyder ruled that plaintiff Osama Ahmed Fahmy has a right to pursue a lawsuit that names Jay-z, Emi Publishing, MTV Networks, Umg Recordings, Warner Music and various other entities as defendants.
Although Jay-z cleared the sample used in "Big Pimpin'," which features Texas rap legends Ugk, the copyright lawsuit claims that, according to Egyptian law, the song violates the "moral rights" of it original composer.
The Timbaland-produced "Big Pimpin'," from Jay-z's Vol. 3 ... The Life & Times of S. Carter album, samples "Khosara, Khosara," which was composed by Baligh Hamdy for the 1960 Egyptian film Fata Ahlami.
- 5/6/2011
- MTV Music News
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