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First Arabic Netflix film tackles taboos, sparks controversy
A Lebanese father tells his teenage daughter she is free to choose whether to have sex with her boyfriend despite his reservations.
An Egyptian wife discreetly slips off her black, lacy underwear from under her clothes before heading out for dinner, and it’s not her husband she’s trying to tantalize.
And in a dramatic moment, a man reveals that he is gay, a secret he has kept from his longtime friends who are shocked — but seem mostly accepting.
READ: ‘World Film Manifesto Program’ at DU to showcase Emir Kusturica
The scenes in the first Arabic Netflix movie have sparked a public drama as intense as the one that plays out onscreen. On social media and TV talk shows and among friends in Egypt and other Middle East countries, a torrent of critics have denounced the film as a threat to family and religious values, encouraging homosexuality and unfit for Arab societies.
Others have rallied to the film’s defense, saying detractors are in denial about what happens behind closed doors in real life. Those who don’t like the movie, they argue, are free to not subscribe to Netflix or simply skip the film.
Titled “Ashab Wala A’azz,” which means “No Dearer Friends,” the movie is an Arabic version of the Italian hit “Perfect Strangers,” which has inspired many other international remakes. It tells the story of seven friends at a dinner party gone wrong after the hostess suggests that, as a game, they agree to share any calls, text and voice messages. As smart phones buzz, secrets are revealed, infidelities are exposed and relationships are tested.
The controversy has re-ignited debates in the region over artistic freedom versus social and religious sensitivities; censorship; what constitutes a taboo in different societies and portrayal of gay characters.
One irony is that Netflix in the Middle East shows many non-Arabic movies and series that feature gay characters in a positive light, premarital and extramarital sex and even nudity — which is typically banned in cinemas in the region — with little outcry.
But to see those themes broached in an Arabic-language movie with Arab actors went too far for some. (The movie has no nudity; it’s largely an hour and half of people talking around a dinner table.)
READ: 3-day long dance festival begins at BSA Thursday
“I think if it’s a normal foreign movie, I will be ok. But because it’s an Arabic movie, I didn’t accept it,” said 37-year-old Elham, an Egyptian who asked for her last name to be withheld due to the sensitivity of the topic. “We don’t accept the idea of homosexuality or intimate relations before marriage in our society, so what happened was a cultural shock.”
Homosexuality is a particularly strong taboo in Egypt: A 2013 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 95% in the country say it should be rejected by society; in Lebanon, that number stood at 80% at the time.
The movie’s cast are mostly prominent Lebanese stars and its events are set in Lebanon. There, it has garnered many positive reviews. Fans said it discussed relatable topics away from stereotypes that are usually attached to gay characters or cheating spouses on screen.
“There’s nothing like the Arab world’s hatred of the truth,” Rabih Farran, a Lebanese journalist, said in a tweet, referring to the backlash.
It’s not the first time that an Arabic-language movie has featured gay characters.
Most famously, the 2006 movie “The Yacoubian Building” with a cast of A-list Egyptian actors caused a stir for, among other things, including a gay main character. But the character was ultimately killed by his lover in what many saw as punishment.
In contrast, the gay character in “Ashab Wala A’azz” is not depicted negatively. Another character encourages him to expose his former employers who let him go for his sexual identity.
Fatima Kamal, a 43-year-old Egyptian, said she didn’t find it to be promoting same-sex relationships. She argued that some Egyptian movies in the past were more daring.
“The movie touched on issues that the society refuses to confront but they do happen,” she said. “We all have a dark side and hidden stories.”
Kamal, who has a 12-year-old son, also dismissed the idea the film would corrupt Arab youth.
“Technology has changed society. Restricting movies is not the answer,” she said. “The solution is to watch based on age ratings and to talk to the young and make them understand that not everything we see on the screen is OK.”
Talking on a popular TV show, Egyptian lawmaker Mostafa Bakry contended Egyptian and Arab family values are being targeted.
“This is neither art nor creativity,” he said. “We must ban Netflix from being in Egypt” even if temporarily.
Magda Maurice, an art critic debating Bakry on the show, disagreed. “This movie exposes what mobile phones do to people and to their normal lives,” she said.
“You cannot ban anything now but you can confront it with good art,” she added. “Banning has become a thing of the past.”
In Egypt, much of the furor focused on the sole Egyptian woman in the cast, Mona Zaki, one of the country’s biggest stars. Her character is the one seen slipping off her underwear, a gesture that many critics decried as scandalous.
In social media, some attacked her for participating in the film. The online abuse extended to actors and actresses who supported her or praised her performance. Some criticized her real-life husband, an Egyptian movie star in his own right, for “allowing” her to play the role.
The Egyptian actors syndicate came out in support of Zaki, saying it will not abide verbal abuse or intimidation against actors over their work. It said that freedom of creativity “is protected and defended by the syndicate,” while adding that it is committed to the values of Egyptian society.
The Associated Press reached out to Netflix for a comment on the controversy but didn’t receive one.
Egypt has long celebrated its cinema industry, which earned it the nickname “Hollywood of the East,” lured actors from other Arabic-speaking countries and brought Egyptian movies and dialect into Arab homes the world over.
Film critic Khaled Mahmoud said Egypt “used to produce powerful and daring movies in the 1960s and 1970s.” But much of that adventurousness has been lost with the trend of so-called “clean cinema,” emphasizing themes deemed family appropriate with no physical intimacy or immodest attire, he added.
“Society has changed, and the viewership culture has become flawed.”
Story lines about affairs or sexual relations are not uncommon in Arabic films. But female stars are commonly grilled in interviews over whether they would agree to wear swimsuits or kiss co-stars on camera.
“Our job is to let art be art,” Mahmoud said. “We cannot critique art through a moral lens.”
Actress Poppy: 'My membership of Shilpi Somity was terminated'
Dhallywood actress Sadika Parveen Poppy has received a letter terminating her membership of the film artists’ association and claimed that she has repeatedly been humiliated.
Poppy, who has not been active in the media for quite some time, on Wednesday evening made a video statement on social media.
She said, “I thought I would never come in front of the camera again. But as an artist I have responsibilities. I have received the National Film Award three times and worked with a reputation for over 26 years in the industry.”
She said she had been repeatedly humiliated by a member of the current artist association through its politics and its many forms of non-cooperation. Riaz, Ferdous, Purnima and Nipun have also been humiliated, she said.
She also said how humiliating it was for her to receive the letter of membership terminating her membership of the artists' association (Shilpi Somity) after working for so many years.
So, she urged the members of the association not to make the mistake they did and to choose the right candidate through election.
One of the most salient issues, and almost ideological points of difference between the two competing panels in this year's election is the membership in the association of 184 persons who, like Poppy, were degraded from full to associate membership - among other things, depriving them of voting rights in association matters under the current Misha-Zayed panel.
This was supposed to have been done after scrutiny through a vetting process to weed out those whose body of work did not measure up to merit membership of the association. The names of various artists with substantial credits in plenty of Dhallywood movies appearing on the list of 184 suggested this was not always followed.
Now the revelation that Poppy is among them, plus the context she narrated may come as a blow to the incumbents when votes are cast this Friday (28 January). Allegations persisted throughout the campaign period that the membership vetting process had also been used to carry out vendettas, political and otherwise, by the Misha-Zayed panel.
Their opponents, the Kanchan-Nipun panel, has fought the election on a platform to restore full membership of the 184.
Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul's third death anniversary observed
Ekushey Padak-winning music-director, lyricist, composer and freedom fighter Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul's third death anniversary was observed on Saturday. The revered music icon passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest on this day in 2019.
Family members and admirers of Bulbul observed the occasion remembering his life and works throughout the day.
Born in Dhaka on New Year's Day in 1956, Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul completed his schooling at the West End High School in Azimpur.
When Bangladesh stood against the oppression of Pakistani rulers in 1971 and declared Independence, Bulbul joined the Liberation War at the age of 15 and was stationed in Zinzira at a Mukti Bahini base during the War.
Read: ‘World Film Manifesto Program’ at DU to showcase Emir Kusturica
He trained in India before fighting in Dhaka's Lalbagh Thana and New Market Thana. While traveling to India for extra training in October, 1971 - he was apprehended by the Pakistani military and Razakars.
He was then taken to a jail in Mymensingh, where he was tortured and saw the Pakistan military execute 39 Mukti Bahini detainees. He was transported to Dana Miah's home, which operated as the East Pakistan Central Peace Committee's local office. Along with other Mukti Bahini members, he was tortured there.
After the Independence, Bulbul's glorious career started as the revered music icon, beginning with 'Megh Bijli Badol' in 1978.
He wrote and composed hundreds of fan-favourite songs. released independent albums and created works for a number of Bangladeshi performers in his four decades long career.
In addition to Bulbul's musical ventures, he also became a judge on the country's first-ever musical reality show 'Closeup 1 Tomakei Khujchhe Bangladesh' for three seasons.
Read: 3-day long dance festival begins at BSA Thursday
For his excellence in the Bangladeshi music industry, Bulbul received the National Film Award in the Best Music Director category twice - first in 2001 for his work in 'Premer Tajmahal' and in 2005 for 'Hajar Bochhor Dhore'.
He was awarded the Ekushey Padak in 2010 for his outstanding contribution to the country’s music industry. He also received the coveted Bachsas (Bangladesh Cholochitra Sangbadik Samity) Awards for 11 time throughout his career.
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‘World Film Manifesto Program’ at DU to showcase Emir Kusturica
The 132nd World Film Manifestation Program (WFMP) is going to be held at the Munier Chowdhury Auditorium of Dhaka University’s TSC starting from Sunday.
The event, organized by Dhaka University Chalachitra Sangsad, will end on Monday.
The purpose of this event is to introduce film lovers to the most admired films of all the famous filmmakers of the world.
Read: 3-day long dance festival begins at BSA Thursday
So far, 131 editions of WFMP have been organized since 2000. The upcoming 132nd iteration will feature the films of two-time ‘Palme d'Or’ award-winning Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica.
Four of Kusturica's films have been lined up for the event - screening two on each day. It starts Sunday at 3:30 pm with 'Black Cat, White Cat', followed by 'Underground' at 6pm.
Monday's line up consists of 'Arizona Dream,' a Surrealist comedy starring Hollywood star Johnny Depp, at the 3.30pm slot, followed at 6pm again by 'Time of the Gypsies,' for which Kusturica won Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival.
Anyone can enjoy these films at free of cost as it is open for all.
3-day long dance festival begins at BSA Thursday
A 3-day dance festival with participation of 75 dance troops will begin on Thursday at Jatiya Natyashala in Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA).
The dance festival will be inaugurated at 4 pm by State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid as the chief guest and President of Bangladesh Nrityashilpi Sangstha Minu Haque as special guest.
READ: Singer Asif Akbar indicted in ICT case
Director General of BSA Liaquat Ali Lucky briefed reporters about the festival on Wednesday.
He said, through this event BSA has been able to patronize 75 dance troops.
Of the troops, 50 have been provided with financial assistance of TK 1 lakh and remaining 25 troops with TK 80,000 each.
READ: Kylie Jenner becomes first woman with 300 million Instagram followers
Kylie Jenner becomes first woman with 300 million Instagram followers
Make-up mogul Kylie Jenner has become the first woman to reach 300 million followers on Instagram, reports BBC.
Ariana Grande, previously the app's most popular woman, is now tied in second place with Selena Gomez. The singers have 289 million each.
But Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo remains Instagram's most followed person, now with more than 388 million followers.
Read:Best Wedding Movies Ever Made in the Movie History
Jenner has been relatively quiet on the image-sharing platform recently.
Her partner, rapper Travis Scott, was performing at the Astroworld music festival, in Houston, Texas, on 5 November, when 10 people died during a stampede of fans
And Jenner, who is pregnant with their second child, only broke her social-media silence on Christmas Eve, sharing a photo of her mother, Kris Jenner.
The following week, she posted about the "blessings" and "heartaches" she had experienced in 2021.
Created in 2010, by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, Instagram - bought by Facebook in 2012, for $1bn (£0.7bn) - now has 1.3 billion users.
Every day, 500 million people use the app
Its official account, @Instagram, which showcases its favourite photographs from creators around the world, has the most followers, more than 460 million
Next up is Ronaldo, the first person to reach 200 million followers.
Fellow footballer Lionel Messi has also broken the 300 million milestone.
Other accounts in the top 10 belong to former wrestler The Rock, reality-TV personality Kim Kardashian and singers Beyoncé and Justin Bieber.
Read: Spider-Man comic page sells for record $3.36M bidding
As Instagram has grown in popularity, it has faced criticism about its responsibility for harmful online content.
Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen called it "more dangerous than other forms of social media", after it was revealed the company's own research showed it could be harmful.
At the time, Instagram said the research showed its "commitment to understanding complex and difficult issues".
Spider-Man comic page sells for record $3.36M bidding
A single page of artwork from a 1984 Spider-Man comic book sold at auction Thursday for a record $3.36 million.
Mike Zeck’s artwork for page 25 from Marvel Comics’ “Secret Wars No. 8” brings the first appearance of Spidey’s black suit. The symbiote suit would eventually lead to the emergence of the character Venom.
The record bidding, which started at $330,000 and soared past $3 million, came on the first day of Heritage Auctions’ four-day comic event in Dallas.
Also read: 'French Spiderman' climbs Frankfurt high-rise, faces fine
The previous record for an interior page of a U.S. comic book was $657,250 for art from a 1974 issue of “The Incredible Hulk” that featured a tease for the first appearance of Wolverine.
Also Thursday, one of the few surviving copies of Superman’s debut, Action Comics No. 1, sold for $3.18 million, putting it among the priciest books ever auctioned.
None of the sellers or buyers were identified.
Also read: "Spiderman: Far from Home" continues leading Chinese mainland box office
Singer Asif Akbar indicted in ICT case
A Dhaka court on Thursday framed charges against popular singer Asif Akbar in a case filed under the Information Communication and Technology (ICT) Act.
Dhaka Cyber Tribunal Judge Mohammad As-Sams Jaglul Hossain framed the charges rejecting the plea for acquittal and set June 23 to start recording statements of witnesses, said public prosecutor Najrul Islam Shamim.
With the framing of charges the formal trial in the case has started.
On June 4, 2018, lyricist and singer Shafiq Tuhin filed the case against Asif at Tejgaon police station.
On November 20, 2019, the investigation officer in the case filed two separate chargesheets against the singer under the ICT Act and Penal Code.
According to the case complaint, the plaintiff found out that Asif sold 617 songs of different lyricists, musician and singers without their permission through an investigative program named,”Search Light,” broadcasted in a private TV channel on June 1, 2018.
Read: Asif, Lutfor coming up with an Islamic song this Ramadan
Later the plaintiff got information from different sources that Asif digitalized those songs through his production company ARB Entertainment and earned a huge amount of money.
Shafiq Tuhin posted a status about the matter on his personal Facebook account where Asif commented indecently.
Later Asif came live on Facebook and said he will resist Shafiq anywhere he finds him.
Jason Momoa, Lisa Bonet split after 16 years together
Jason Momoa and wife Lisa Bonet have ended their 16-year relationship.
A joint statement posted on the “Aquaman” star’s Instagram page Wednesday that he and his wife were parting ways.
“We have all felt the squeeze and changes of these transformational times… A revolution is unfolding (tilde)and our family is of no exception,” the post said, adding that they were announcing the split so “as we go about our lives we may do so with dignity and honesty.”
Read:Top 10 Hollywood Movies Released in 2021
Momoa, 42, and Bonet, 54, met and started dating in 2005 and officially married in late 2017. They have a son and daughter together.
Bonet, who rose to fame playing one of Bill Cosby’s daughters on “The Cosby Show” and its spinoff, “A Different World,” was previously married to rocker Lenny Kravitz.
Top 10 Hollywood Movies Released in 2021
With the epidemic of Covid-19 becoming somewhat milder, the Hollywood frenzy has returned to normal by mid-2021. Popular franchises, as well as movies with original stories, have taken place on the silver screen. At the lockdown, housebound movie-lovers desperately countdown to see the faces of their favorite stars on the full-length film. At the beginning of the year, let's take a look at the best Hollywood movies of 2021.
Top 10 Hollywood Movies released in 2021
Spider-Man: No Way Home | December 17, 2021
IMDb: 8.8/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 98% (Audience Score)
The Marvel movie means mesmerizing scenes of breathless action and VFX (high visual effects). This 27th movie of MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) has also carried on with that. Tom Holland, the youngest Peter Parker, has appeared in a solo Spiderman movie for the third time under the direction of John Watts. As always, Chris McKenna and Eric Somers set the screenplay for this timeless character of Stan Lee. Spiderman's previous characters are also featured here as the context of the story this time is about the multidimensional world. As a result, this highest-grossing movie of 2021 features stars like Jamie Foxx, Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina, Andrew Garfield, and Toby Maguire.
Read Best Winter Movies to Get the Fun of Shivering in the Cold
Dune | October 21, 2021
IMDb: 8.1/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 90% (Audience Score)
Popular rising stars like Timothy Chalamet, Josh Brolin, Zendaya, and Jason Momoa are seen together in this American epic science fiction movie. Denis Villeneuve directed it based on the first half of Frank Herbert's 1965 novel, which had already been adapted twice. John Spyhats And Eric Roth worked with him on the screenplay. The second version of the movie with the second half will come in October 2023. The story is about a child of an aristocratic family getting involved in a battle on a terrifying desert planet to protect the galaxy's most precious element.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League | March 18, 2021
IMDb: 8.1/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 94% (Audience Score)
DC studio, the worthy rival of Marvel, was not far behind this time as well. This movie is basically a more refined and more detailed version of the 2017 Justice League movie by Jack Snyder, the inaugural filmmaker of DCEU (DC Extended Universe). As before, it had Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gale Gadget, Ray Fisher, Jason Momoa, and Ezra Miller in their respective roles. In addition to hitting the box office, this director's cut of DCU's fifth movie has received a very positive response worldwide, even surpassing the original movie.
Read Best New Year Movies of all time to start afresh in 2022