Netflix’s First Arabic Film Causes Controversy with Gay Character
Perfect Strangers (Ashab Wala A’azz), the first-ever Arabic film made by Netflix, has set off a wave of controversy across the Middle East, as critics contend that plot elements of the film, including homosexuality and infidelity, violate regional cultural values.The film has sparked anger amongst conservatives who took offence to several plot lines, although it is the character who identifies as gay who has been the target of the most outrage.The film, a remake of the 2016 Italian filmof the same name, stars Muna Zaki, Nadine Labaki, Eyad Nassar, Adel Karam and Georges Khabbaz, all of whom are major stars in the Middle East.Zaki has also been the target of a wave of online abuse as a result of appearing in the film.
Zaki is shown in one scene removing her underwear, although no nudity is present in the entirety of the film.Not everyone has objected to Zaki’s appearance in the film, with one user saying, “muna zaki is killing it.
i dont care if her role is appropriate or not, the fact that i believed what she was saying and feeling is enough.”muna zaki is killing it.
i dont care if her role is appropriate or not, the fact that i believed what she was saying and feeling is enough. تمثيلها يخرّع.— مضاوي الجيماز (@mudhaweee) January 24, 2022Khabbaz, speaking with The National, said, “This is a social film.
