Egypt’s large film community has rallied behind actress Mona Zaki against a wave of criticism for her role in the Netflix remake of Perfect Strangers.
Ashaab Walla A’aaz has dominated the Egyptian media since its release on Thursday, with thousands of commentators weighing in on both sides of the argument.
Critics of the film denounced its portrayal of same-sex relationships and marital infidelity. Others took issue with its depiction of alcohol use and out-of-wedlock relationships.
The criticism sparked strong support for Zaki, with many of the biggest names in Egypt’s film industry denouncing calls for Netflix to be blocked.
The film’s plot follows a group of close friends at a dinner party who decide to play a game. They must place their smartphones on a table, and share every call, text and voice message they receive with the rest of the group.
Over the course of the evening, the players’ most intimate secrets are revealed. One is in a same-sex relationship and another is having an extramarital affair.
In a complaint to the speaker of the House of Deputies, MP Mustafa Bakry said the film breached Egyptian family values. One of the country’s top lawyers then threatened to sue the culture ministry if the film was not blocked.
Veteran actress Elham Shahin phoned in to a popular talk show on Sunday night to passionately defend the film.
“I really don’t know what’s going on any more. I watched the film and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. There isn’t even a single profanity there. The whole thing takes place around a dinner table,” Shahin, 61, told El Hekaya, a popular talk show hosted by Amr Adeeb.
Zaki is the only cast member who is Egyptian. The film is set in Lebanon.
On Monday, Egypt’s actors’ guild issued a statement expressing its solidarity with Zaki, and promised to back her in any legal proceedings taken against her because of her role in the film.
Actress Abeer Sabry also defended the film in a telephone interview with another talk show. She said she wasn’t surprised that Egyptian audiences had reacted in this way.
“Egyptians have always made a habit of attacking the arts. It’s usually because of serious misinformation being circulated on social media,” Sabry said. “But if I was offered a role like the one Mona Zaki played, I would take it, no question.”
Another veteran Egyptian actress, Laila Elwi, 60, came to Zaki’s defence. She told a television interviewer the film boldly addressed social issues that should not be swept under the carpet.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biogs
Name: Zinah Madi
Occupation: Co-founder of Dots and links
Nationality: Syrian
Family: Married, Mother of Tala, 18, Sharif, 14, Kareem, 2
Favourite Quote: “There is only one way to succeed in anything, and that is to give it everything.”
Name: Razan Nabulsi
Occupation: Co-founder of Dots and Links
Nationality: Jordanian
Family: Married, Mother of Yahya, 3.5
Favourite Quote: A Chinese proverb that says: “Be not afraid of moving slowly, be afraid only of standing still.”
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium, Malayisa
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia on October 10
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
How to increase your savings
- Have a plan for your savings.
- Decide on your emergency fund target and once that's achieved, assign your savings to another financial goal such as saving for a house or investing for retirement.
- Decide on a financial goal that is important to you and put your savings to work for you.
- It's important to have a purpose for your savings as it helps to keep you motivated to continue while also reducing the temptation to spend your savings.
- Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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Scoreline
Swansea 2
Grimes 20' (pen), Celina, 29'
Man City 3
Silva 69', Nordfeldt 78' (og), Aguero 88'
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
More coverage from the Future Forum
The biog
Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn
Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design
