'Whispers': Will Netflix's Saudi Arabian series escape the controversy created by first Arabic original 'Jinn'?
When Netflix's first Arabic original series, 'Jinn', released last year, the excitement was high at first. However, the content of the westernized series ended up creating so much controversy, that it not only affected another Arabic original's shooting but also led to the teenage cast of 'Jinn' to go into hiding fearing for their lives. 'Jinn' may be safely back in Netflix's past, however, with Netflix's upcoming Saudi Arabian series, 'Whispers', we take a look at what happened in the aftermath of 'Jinn' and whether the same will play out for 'Whispers'.
'Jinn', the supernatural teen thriller is a Jordanian production – the story is set in Petra – and follows a group of teenagers on a school trip, one of whom accidentally summons Jinn, a spiritual figure, who wants to destroy the world. It's up to the youngsters to try and stop it. The controversy revolves around two scenes in which a girl, played by Salma Malhas, kisses two different boys from her class. Members of Jordan’s government condemned the series for being lewd and immoral, while viewers called out the show for its lack of depiction of local culture.
The controversy then snowballed and affected not just Netflix's other Arabic language originals, but also the Jordanian film industry. 'Al-Rawabi School for Girls', Netflix's second Jordanian series was indefinitely postponed by Netflix as the actors of 'Jinn' went into hiding. Private financing reduced as Jordan's authorities tightened regulations on filming.
Shooting permits were lost, crew members working on 'Al-Rawabi School for Girls' were let go, parents who witnessed the online vitriol directed at Malhas refused to allow their children to appear in productions. The already complicated process of making films and series in Jordan got worse as the private sector became reluctant to be involved in the industry.
Since 'Jinn', 'Whispers' is the first Arabic series to be marketed by Netflix. The licensed Saudi Arabian series will follow a family dealing with the death of family patriarch, Hassan. Just a few days before the launch of his new company’s smart application, he passes away and secrets about his mysterious past begin to resurface, with his family left to deal with it.
Featuring a predominantly female cast, 'Whispers' is also set in a country that is known for its mistreatment of women. The question arises as to how the series might balance Saudi Arabia's culture while appealing to an international audience. There are many eclectic characters penned by Al Omair in the show, including Hassan’s daughters, the graphic designer Sawsan (Norah Al Anbar) and social media savvy Waad (Nada Tawhid).
In an interview with UAE's The National, series director Hana Al Omair said, "These kinds of Saudi female characters are not shown to both international and Arabic audiences. he series also talks about modern life in Saudi Arabia that not many people have seen before because it has rarely been presented that way."
In Saudi Arabia, until recently women were not allowed to drive cars or leave their homes without male guardians. However, women still require male consent for a woman to leave prison, exit a domestic abuse shelter or marry. Moreover, women, unlike men, still cannot pass on citizenship to their children and cannot provide consent for their children to marry. Many women activists who fought for the right to drive and independence are still incarcerated in Saudi Arabia's prisons.
However, despite the many restrictions in the deeply conservative country, Saudi Arabian women still have their own identity. Should 'Whispers' portray that identity accurately, the series may do much better than 'Jinn' did. However, whether the series will address the severe inequality of women in the country remains to be seen, though we predict that it could be highly unlikely.
'Whispers' will be available to stream on Netflix from June 11 at 12 am PST.
