As a seasoned movie lover with a soft spot for cross-cultural narratives, I find the upcoming film “My Treat” to be an exciting addition to the cinematic landscape. Having lived and traveled extensively across the Middle East and Turkey, I can attest to the shared history and cultural similarities that make this region ripe for compelling storytelling.
In collaboration, Front Row Productions from Dubai and Alamiya Filmed Entertainment from Saudi Arabia have joined forces on a project titled “My Treat” or “Mahmool Makfool”. This is a comedic road-trip film with a Saudi-Turkish connection, centered around the escapades of three young Saudi women who are avid fans of Turkish soap operas.
As a movie enthusiast, I’m particularly excited about the upcoming comedy “My Treat,” a unique production that leverages the shared history and cultural affinities between Turkey and the Arab world. This film will be a groundbreaking venture, as it marks the first time a Saudi feature film is shot in Turkey. The shooting commences in September, with scenes being captured both in Riyadh and Istanbul.
The story, titled “My Treat,” revolves around three ardent fans of Turkish soaps – Abu-Laban, Mohsen, and Wegdan – who journey from Riyadh to Istanbul with the goal of meeting their beloved heartthrob. However, their adventure takes an unexpected turn as they are unjustly accused of abducting the celebrity they admire most. Consequently, they find themselves in the thick of a drama reminiscent of Turkish soap operas, as suggested by the plot summary.
The actresses Khairiyah Abu Laban (“Servant”), Nermin Mohsen (“The Blue Whale”), and Engy Wegdan (“Warm Embrace”) are set to form the main female cast. Discussions are ongoing with a renowned Turkish actor for the role of the central romantic lead in this upcoming comedy.
“The movie titled ‘My Treat’ is being helmed by the esteemed Egyptian director Karim Abu Zeid (known as ‘11.11’), with a screenplay penned by the talented Saudi-Palestinian writer Noha Saadi. Notably, she was also involved in adapting ‘The Office’ for Arabic audiences, based on an original concept by Wesam Kattan, who serves as CEO of Alamiya Filmed Entertainment.”
“Kattan stated that this movie really encapsulates the vision and plan of AFE. After almost three years of development, this project is a result of teamwork where our dedication to process, data, and talent has been brought to fruition. Kattan also highlighted that the themes of celebrity fandom, friendship, and loyalty are central to the narrative, mirroring the core of human relationships in the sphere of fame.”
The CEOs of Front Row Productions, Gianluca Chakra and Mario Haddad Jr., pointed out that the film industry in Saudi Arabia has seen remarkable growth due to locally produced comedies like “SATTAR,” “Mandoob,” “Shabab El Bomb” and “Hammour.” These films often surpass the box office success of major Hollywood productions, according to them.
Additionally, considering the widespread appeal of Turkish dramas in the Arab world, it was suggested that a possible approach to captivate more Arab audiences and achieve even greater acclaim could involve merging aspects of Saudi and Arabic film-making with the well-liked Turkish style. This could result in a compelling mix that acknowledges and includes the cultural subtleties of all three regions.
As a passionate movie enthusiast, I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing films from Front Row Productions – a dynamic collaboration between two heavyweights in the MENA film industry. Based in Dubai under the leadership of Chakra, and proudly representing Beirut through Empire Entertainment, owned by the Haddad family, this joint venture is truly a force to be reckoned with.
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2024-08-01 15:16