First Arabic Film by Netflix Stirs Fierce Morality Debate
CAIRO — In one of the opening scenes, a Lebanese mother confronts her 17-year-old daughter after discovering two condoms in her purse.
Minutes later, an Egyptian wife sneakily slips off her underwear just before leaving for dinner with her husband. Fast-forward to the moment of peak tension (spoiler alert!): An Arab man, who is part of a group of close friends, is revealed to be gay.
These scenes from the Arabic-language remake of the Italian movie “Perfect Strangers” are rife with conflict. But the real drama exploded as soon as it was released on Netflix on Jan.
20, setting off a firestorm of criticism denouncing the film for flouting moral standards. But more moderate voices, including famous actors, writers and social media influencers, rushed to defend it. “This film carries messages that serve as a trial balloon for ideas that are alien to us,” said Tamer Amin, a popular late-night host on Egyptian television. “If we let these thoughts and poisons spread, all morals will be lost.” The polarizing reaction to the movie, the first Arabic film made by Netflix, reflected a culture war between the religious establishment and public across much of the Arab world and the often-youthful liberal forces that have converged on social media and are using technology and alternative channels to evade strict censorship, reach a wider audience and fuel change.
