Perfect Strangers, is Netflix’s first Arabic original feature.
The film starring Egyptian actor Mona Zaki and Capernaum Nadine Labaki is the latest of the many international remakes of the 2016 Italian hit: Perfect Strangers.
Perfect Strangers, is Netflix’s first Arabic original feature.
The film starring Egyptian actor Mona Zaki and Capernaum Nadine Labaki is the latest of the many international remakes of the 2016 Italian hit: Perfect Strangers.
The film featured a scene with two men kissing. Since then, controversy has continued to build across the Middle East.
It began with a Jan. 22 Facebook post by Egyptian actor Menna Shalaby and has since spread to Twitter, in which she criticised the film and called for it to be banned in Egypt.
Egyptian Member of Parliament Tarek el-Khouly said that the movie “will lead to immorality in society”
He also added that “this film is proof that many Arab filmmakers are partaking in an international conspiracy aiming to corrupt the nation’s values.”
The film has received similar criticism on social media, particularly from users in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
There has been no official reaction from any of the censors or distributors in any of the countries where it will be released, which raises serious questions about whether or not they will be able to handle such a sensitive subject matter.
Netflix itself seems unfazed by both accusations and controversy however; a spokesperson revealed that they are “proud of the film’s courage and their unique storytelling talent.
The fact that the series was released and made available to the public suggests either Netflix’s confidence in its reception or it was ignorant of how it would be received in certain markets.