So far many movies have been made depicting the way of life the women folk in Arab leads: but ‘Keif al Hal’ will be the first of its kind, as it is the only feature film that comes from the Saudi Arabian world and a big investment as well that is undertaken by Saudi billionaire Prince Walid bin Talal.
‘Keif al Hal’ meaning ‘How’s It Going?’ will be putting forward several controversial question regarding ’social oppressions’, life of the Saudi women and many more things.
The movie produced by Ayman S. Halawani, tells the story of a women named Sahar who wants to have her own identity, build up an established career while her brother has perfect plans for her to get married and stay hooked to the life of a housewife.
The movie in a very simplistic manner reflects the dilemma faced by the Saudi families having caught up in the storm between ‘Modernity’ and ‘Tradition’.
In all the earlier movies, actresses from outside the Arab world played the female roles: the movie will be noteworthy from the point of view that for the first time a Saudi actress will be playing the female lead: she is Mais Hamdan.
Mais entry into the movie industry by itself shows the gradual advancement of the status of Saudi women.
Via: NYT
'Keif al Hal': An Arabic movie about a Saudi woman's life
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Sharon Chadha has written for various publications, including RUSI Journal, the publication of the Royal United Services Institute, the world’s oldest security and defense think tank in London.
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Comments
I Hate those movies they are just publicity against :ISLAM
i agree with mariam ....this is against islam.
i appreciate the fact that the movie was made because it encourages others to view Saudi’s in a positive light, not only as oppressors (as the West might think). we need an outlet to show our creative side as well as Islamic side. This movie does not in any way degrade or betray Islam it shows the ambiguities of Islam.
I would like to know what is your purpuse of putting a picture of an afghanian woman in ”Burqa” on the top of your website. Are you trying to say that this is the picture of all muslim woman??!! I find this picture very disturbing, I’m confused..
BS
This is first time in history that the people of same religion against their own culture which is from most respected person in the world “Mohemed”. If Arabs want to become a famous in the world-movies as Hollywood and Indian doing in movie industry, so there are many things other than this insulting of the dress of their mothers. Christians and Indians are doing well in the movies but they don’t bother the best or worst happens inside the religion if it is even in the Church or Temple. But we don’t understand that to whom these Arab want to show this movie. When I asked some of the house drivers about the women life in Saudi Arabia, I have got the answer that the most women complete their life with one husband but some husband has four wives. But when you look at western countries most wives have more than four ……… so I think Arabs women would be having a kind of peace in the house, but may be they don’t have joyful life like going to party and having fun with everyone. Also it’s not possible that an African-American should change his color to white while he stays in US. So respect you and your culture if you find something wrong in your kids, don’t blame their grand father who is your father.
I think the whole point of the movie has been missed here. Although, I have not seen it, they way it is explained in the post, the movie is about the problems that many women and even men face these days. Its not at all about religion. Simply..........women and men are getting tired of being told what to do by others. Its hard for an adult woman to be told what to do with her life by her brother or any other person. Especially now with education of woman growing in the middle east. Women are wanting to use the education they are learning but are struggling with traditions and family. They love their family and want to please them but also want to be happy and make their own decisions. So they have a delima. I have even seen men struggle with trying to please their families but wanting to do other things with their life and are continually unhappy because of it. The minds of arabs are growing and changing with the rest of the world, but the loved traditions and family comes first ideology is here to stay, as it should, but it brings confusion, stress and more to all who live it. Why not bring it out to the open so we dont feel so alone and maybe come up with some solutions.
Honestly, my point of view on it is this.
A family is a group of people that love each other no matter what. When times are the hardest and you feel like you have no other person in the world to rely on, it is your family you go to. Right? I believe in Islam this is also an accepted view.
So why is it that your family should want you to be unhappy to fulfill their ideals? If you honestly love and want the best for someone, you have an obligation to respect them as an individual and let them make decisions for themselves. When you tell a child a candle is hot and not to touch, do you lock them away from fire for the rest of their lives or do you eventually let them touch it and see for themselves?
If you think a movie is attacking your religion because it tells you to treat others with respect and dignity then I shudder at the idea of how you see your own religion.