JEDDAH, 20 September 2006 — “Abu Shalakh Al-Burmai,” a film based on a satirical novel by the noted poet and novelist, Saudi Labor Minister Ghazi Al-Gosaibi, is expected to be a huge success this Ramadan, the Al-Nadwah newspaper reported yesterday.
Al-Gosaibi’s novel is an attempt to tear away the masks worn by Gulf Arabs living under a paternal culture. The story of the drama revolves around Yaacoub Al-Mufassakh who is also titled Abu Shalakh. It is narrated by a journalist Tawfiq Khalil Tawfiq who interviews him.
The story unveils the political, economic and cultural hypocrisy in a humorous style but shadowed by a realistic bitterness that takes viewers to a world of fantasy interacting at times with demons, jinni and flying carpets.
Faiz Al-Maliki, one of the most talented actors in the Gulf, is starring as Abu Shalakh with Bahraini actress Zuhur Hussein. The cast includes Hassan Asiri, Abdul Rahman Al-Aqal, Abdul Mohsen Al-Namir, Zahra Arafat, Lamya Tareq and Latifa Al-Miqren.
Al-Maliki, who was a great success as Manahi in “Ekhwani wa Akhwati” shown on Saudi TV last Ramadan, is expected to do justice to the double-crossing and deceptive character of Abu Shalakh.
