OFF LINE!!! Backlight: Big Brother - The Middle East
A rather unique insight into Arab confusion about morals and Western freedom, at a moment when more than ever the Western and Arab world eye each other suspiciously.
The Saudi television station MBC expected the entire Arab world, from Morocco to Saudi Arabia, to be ready to embrace the Arab version of the controversial television programme Big Brother. 20 Million dollars were invested to bring together 12 Arab boys and girls, from various Arab countries, in the Big Brother house. The house was newly built in the Kingdom of Bahrain, only a few miles away from the heart of Islam, Saudi Arabia. The entire Middle East, male and female, together in one television programme centring around intrigues, relationships and sexuality. This would be the first time for a Western reality life-soap to enter the Arab world.
BACKLIGHT was given the rare opportunity to film everything behind the scenes showing in detail how Big Brother broached all sensitive subjects; the interpretation of the Koran, the influence of Muslim clerics to the issue of the headscarf.
A revealing film about the struggle between the conservative part of the Arab world and the younger generation trying to liberate itself, without losing its religious identiy. After nine days Big Brother in the Middle East was taken off the air.