In the early days of its release on cinematic platforms, the Jordanian movie “Al-Hara” became one of the most popular films on search engines in five Arab countries.
After the end of the film festivals tour, which lasted for about two years, the Jordanian film was shown on the Netflix platform at the beginning of this year. It took time for the film to gain the attention of the pioneers of communication sites in a number of Arab countries.
The controversy over the film continues, with news of demands in the House of Representatives to ban its showing, in a campaign in which the criminalization of love scenes is mixed with accusations. harming the reputation of the country.
“dramatic suspense template”
The movie “Al-Hara” is presented in a dramatic and suspenseful format, and its events take place in a neighborhood governed by its own laws, thus making it seem “closer to a state within a state.”
between alleys Contrasting, “Al-Hara” characters live in a continuous struggle with poverty, destitution and fraud.
This theme may create a “sense of tension”, which is sometimes broken by “romantic” scenes that Ali (the film’s hero) gathers with his beloved Lana in secret.
then Events develop when a blackmailer takes a video clip of the two lovers in a sexual position to reach Lana’s mother, who resorts to a man working in prostitution to “protect her daughter’s reputation”, in a scene full of social contradictions and black comedy.
Doesn’t reflect society’s values
Whoever missed the opportunity to watch the movie in cinemas seemed more keen to watch it on Netflix, but he may be shocked by characters and behaviors that “do not fit the Jordanian neighborhood” and “do not reflect the values and morals of society,” according to some.
The reactions against the film included phrases such as: “What is this degradation,” “These characters do not exist in Jordan,” and “These people do not look like us.”
These phrases are similar to other criticisms of many Arab cinematic and dramatic works, especially those that deal with what some consider “taboos and red lines that cannot be crossed.”
Many refuse to watch people utter insults, watch a movie with female characters who engage in extramarital affairs, or talk about the body and sex openly.
In the movie “Al-Hara” there are many such scenes that the objectors demand to revise so that the film becomes acceptable and obtains their satisfaction.
Some did not hesitate to describe the intimate scenes included in the film as a “crime” and said that “the role of art is to purify and enlighten society.”
Here, some invoke the phrase “clean cinema”, a phrase that others reject and consider it a term “through which its owners try to impose a single vision on art.”
Security and poverty
Among those who objected to the film were those who believed that it “brutally dealt with the issue of poverty and violence,” and focused on “imaginary and dark aspects instead of highlighting the human dimension of the residents of popular areas.”
And there are those who consider that the film further insults the security authorities and the local community.
Among them is MP Muhammad Abu Sa’ilik, who called during a parliamentary session to “hold accountable and prosecute those in charge of the Royal Film Commission for supporting films that distorted the public image of Jordanian society.”
Among the critics are those who believe that the film’s scenes do not resemble the alleys and “lanes” of Jordanian cities. Therefore, some of them call for adhering to the cultural specificity of the country instead of “importing artistic and cultural cadres from countries and others.”
Others went on to accuse the filmmakers of “quoting it from the movie When a March is made by Egyptian director Khaled Youssef.”
In this context, others comment that “if we assume that it is a copy of the movie (Heena Maysara) by Khaled Youssef, there are treatments of values and conditions of poverty and laxity in vulgar ways for the density of the population in Egypt. As for the movie Al-Hara, it is a real distortion while recognizing several contents that touch it in the bitter reality. In the end, this is unfair to the Jordanian society and the state.”
Film reveals “a bitter reality that many deny”
The accusations and objections that the film faces, that it does not reflect the reality of Jordanian society, or that it “does not resemble its members”, others see in it a tendency to generalize that all members of society are identical copies.
Fans of the film agree that it succeeded in revealing a hidden reality that many try to deny under the pretext that it “contradicts the traditions of conservative society.”
The “Al-Hara” characters carry many flaws, which makes them seem realistic to many, given the environment and the social conditions in which they grew up.
And whoever follows the hashtag #Al-Hara_film, you will encounter comments that celebrate the audacity of the work and refuse to prevent it under the pretext of protecting customs.
As many see in these comments, a new movement to break the “barrier of fear.” talking abouttaboos.”
It seems that the attacks on the film prompted others to watch it, following the principle “Bad reviews are good publicity.”
Al-Rihanna replies
In response to criticism of the film, the Jordanian actor, Munther Al-Rayhaneh, said: “The Al-Hara movie represents a segment that exists in society.”
He added, in an intervention with the country’s pulse program: “We presented a film that monitors the reality of an oppressed segment of society, and its end was clear!”
He continued, “The work’s events deal with a human story, and the words and intimate scenes included in it are only a reflection of the reality in society.”
Rihanna expressed reservations about discussing the movie Al-Hara Under the Dome of Parliament, instead of paying attention to living issues. He concluded by emphasizing that the film does not talk about the customs and traditions of the Jordanian people, describing it as a “humanitarian” film.
And there are those who blamed Al-Rayhana for his preoccupation with responding to the attacks that targeted the film. Some of the tweeters advised him to remain silent, following the proverb that says, “Silence is the best response.”
