Najdat Anzour's Ramadan series "cry against extremism"

By Nohad Topalian in Beirut
For Al-Shorfa.com
2010-08-12

[File] "Those Whom You Own" follows the story of three female characters and the other women and men in their lives.

Syrian director Najdat Anzour interweaves several sensitive issues affecting Arab society in his Ramadan series "Those Whom You Own".

The series, written by Dr. Hala Diab, chronicles the lives of three women living in a male dominated society stuck between two opposing currents: openness and close-mindedness. Another subplot follows a Syrian extremist involved in terrorist attacks and his relationships with women.

Anzour said many Arab satellite channels refused to air this series during Ramadan. Viewers, however, will be able to follow it on Future Television in Lebanon and the Arab world.

Al-Shorfa talked with Najdat Anzour about his work, which he described as a cry against extremism.

Al-Shorfa: "Those Whom You Own" involves a dramatic journey through time between the present and future of Arab society. What is the message?

Najdat Anzour: It says that although we now have skyscrapers, the important thing is to build the person who will inhabit these skyscrapers, buildings, and streets that found their way into our world and our society. This journey in time says that when we build the person, we make him a giant who is more important than skyscrapers. This is what I tried to convey in the final episode of the series.

Al-Shorfa: Is what you said the reason for this movement between times?

Anzour: No, [that is] to point out that our problem is with time. We do not understand that time is moving forward while we are running in place. This is a major dilemma facing our generation and the next generation. We must know that time will not stop at a certain point. There are many peoples who were not at our level and today have become more significant than us.

Al-Shorfa: The series shuttles between Syria, France, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Iraq. Why did you choose these places?

Anzour: Because they are the places with the greatest impact on our society. There are young women who marry men from the Gulf, knowing that their spouses are [already] married with children. They face a new life and live a cloistered existence—isolated in one place, in a house or a villa with a maid. Despite all of this luxury, they live in a prison, however civilized it may be. Ultimately, when a decision must be made, a person should be far-sighted enough to know whether their decision is correct.

Al-Shorfa: Does religion play a dominant part in the series, especially given the religious reference in the title?

Anzour: Of course religion is an essential part of society. Islam is a vessel of language and social values. We cannot do away with religion. Any social, cultural or secular process must start with Islam. It is the basis for building society but on correct foundations and not by exploiting it for personal or political aims.

Al-Shorfa: So the series raises awareness?

Anzour: Yes. And at the same time it conveys a cry against all extremism. In my opinion there are two forms of extremism. Unchecked immoral conduct is another extremism more dangerous than religious extremism. [Then there is] religious extremism, but it is rational and can be debated and discussed. Conversely, there is no debating with immoral conduct because it becomes Machiavellian, where the end justifies the means and nothing more.

Al-Shorfa: Would you say that "Those Whom You Own" corrects the view of Islam?

Anzour: Yes. There are conscious, understanding, exemplary religious people in the series, and there are individuals who claim to be religious but have political objectives. They come face-to-face in the series through open, rational, and objective dialogue, and it is up to the public to decide. We do not dictate anything to them. We leave it open for them to decide.

Al-Shorfa: But somewhere along the lines the director imposes his opinion through the choices he makes.

Anzour: We sympathize with a character or subject. Our mission is to raise awareness. Honor killings that occur are a very important issue and are the subject of dozens of serials.

Al-Shorfa: Did you address them?

Anzour: Yes, and from a religious perspective as well.

Al-Shorfa: Did you also address moral corruption?

Anzour: As well. And I touched on its relationship in one way or another to terrorism. I shed light on very sensitive and important issues, and I hope the public will grasp and understand them. We are not against anyone, for everyone is our sons, daughters and brothers. For example, I know veiled women who are examples of ethics, elegance and culture, and I know veiled women who are the opposite.

Al-Shorfa: The serial deals with the lives of three female characters.

Anzour: And other women stand behind them. They are the protagonists, but there are stories of other women in the series confronting a male society. This society must pay attention to women, for they are lost in the male grasp.

Al-Shorfa: Does that mean in this work you are placing responsibility on men?

Anzour: Of course—100%.

Al-Shorfa: Were you able to address all the issues affecting Arab society in 30 episodes?

Anzour: I addressed the topics that I wanted to introduce. And I developed hypothetical endings that respect the viewer's intellect. I did not impose an ending on them. Instead, I offered endings to spark debate and offer solutions and proposals for the situations we addressed. One cannot speak in absolutes for we also are learning.

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