Village Journals
Resonate your identity with Naseeb journals. Express your opinions, share your thoughts, post your writings and connect with like minded people through the power of expression.
Resonate your identity with Naseeb journals. Express your opinions, share your thoughts, post your writings and connect with like minded people through the power of expression.
First saudi movie
Saudi Film First of Its Kind
In a country where movie theaters are illegal, there are no such things as studios, blockbusters or movie stars. All that's changing these days, thanks to the combined efforts of one billionaire prince and an ambitious producer.
Keif al-Hal (loosely translated: How's It Going?) is the first feature film to come out of a country where men and women aren't allowed to mingle in a dark theater, satellite TV is illegal and women, until recently, were only identified on their father's or husband's ID cards. What sets the movie apart from other recent films (mainly documentaries) is its examination of the juxtaposition of modern Saudi culture and deep Islamic traditions. The plot revolves around Sahar, a young woman torn between marrying the man her brother chooses for her or pursuing a career, and love, of her own.
The film, produced by the country's biggest media company, was funded by Prince al-Walid bin Talal who, judging by his attitude towards film, is a fairly forward-thinking man. "I want to tell Arab youth: you deserve to be entertained, you have the right to watch movies, you have the right to listen to music," he said in a New York Times article. His efforts are one more step in the growing movement to create a Saudi movie industry. He went on to say, "There is nothing in Islam ? and I've researched this thoroughly ? not one iota that says you can't have movies. So what I am doing right now is causing change."
As important as the magnifying glass Keif al-Hal places on Saudi culture is the progress it's championing for women's issues as well. The country's first movie actress, Hind Muhammad, plays Sahar's best friend; Sahar herself is played by Jordanian Mais Hamdan. Tradition has long dictated that women from other countries act in television dramas.
If my vote counts for anything, I'm all for this type of cultural change. It's the sort of thing that reminds me how essential film is to society.
Keif al-Hal is due out this winter; no word yet if there's an American distributor to bring the movie to the states. But I have a feeling that if this Prince was interested enough in making the film, he'll find a way to put it in front of audiences.
In a country where movie theaters are illegal, there are no such things as studios, blockbusters or movie stars. All that's changing these days, thanks to the combined efforts of one billionaire prince and an ambitious producer.
Keif al-Hal (loosely translated: How's It Going?) is the first feature film to come out of a country where men and women aren't allowed to mingle in a dark theater, satellite TV is illegal and women, until recently, were only identified on their father's or husband's ID cards. What sets the movie apart from other recent films (mainly documentaries) is its examination of the juxtaposition of modern Saudi culture and deep Islamic traditions. The plot revolves around Sahar, a young woman torn between marrying the man her brother chooses for her or pursuing a career, and love, of her own.
The film, produced by the country's biggest media company, was funded by Prince al-Walid bin Talal who, judging by his attitude towards film, is a fairly forward-thinking man. "I want to tell Arab youth: you deserve to be entertained, you have the right to watch movies, you have the right to listen to music," he said in a New York Times article. His efforts are one more step in the growing movement to create a Saudi movie industry. He went on to say, "There is nothing in Islam ? and I've researched this thoroughly ? not one iota that says you can't have movies. So what I am doing right now is causing change."
As important as the magnifying glass Keif al-Hal places on Saudi culture is the progress it's championing for women's issues as well. The country's first movie actress, Hind Muhammad, plays Sahar's best friend; Sahar herself is played by Jordanian Mais Hamdan. Tradition has long dictated that women from other countries act in television dramas.
If my vote counts for anything, I'm all for this type of cultural change. It's the sort of thing that reminds me how essential film is to society.
Keif al-Hal is due out this winter; no word yet if there's an American distributor to bring the movie to the states. But I have a feeling that if this Prince was interested enough in making the film, he'll find a way to put it in front of audiences.