True Life, the MTV documentary series that tracks late teens and 20-somethings as they deal with life’s serious issues and challenging transitions — newlywed life, sexuality, gambling addictions, imprisoned parents, self image and chronic disease or disability, for example — makes an unusual journey to the Middle East with Resist The Power! Saudi Arabia. The episode is [...]
True Life, the MTV documentary series that tracks late teens and 20-somethings as they deal with life’s serious issues and challenging transitions — newlywed life, sexuality, gambling addictions, imprisoned parents, self image and chronic disease or disability, for example — makes an unusual journey to the Middle East with Resist The Power! Saudi Arabia.
The episode is a departure from the others in the series not only in its foreign location. Resist The Power! Saudi Arabia actually has a broader perspective that gives the episode (which runs for 90 minutes instead of the usual hour) broader appeal, engaging the interests of audiences of all ages and personal preoccupations.
In the film, directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, whose remarkably restrained observational style brought them huge acclaim and an Oscar-nomination for (Jesus Camp, 2006), interweave the stories of several Muslim young adults who are trying to realize their personal dreams and ambitions within the restrictive framework of the Saudi Arabian government and Islamic law.
Most surprising among the cast, is the lovely Fatima, age 20, who advocates for women to be treated equally and, as a way to effect change, wears colored abayahs (cover ups), which she designs, manufactures and sells to other women who are brave enough to break with the male-imposed tradition of wearing conservative, politically correct black. There is also the heavy metal rock group (reminiscent of the guys in Heavy Metal in Baghdad) who can’t find a local venue where they can play and dream of going abroad to perform, and a love sick young man who thinks he’s met his life’s partner on line but can’t find a way to see her in person, and the politically estute pacifist activist who patiently lobbies the male-only Jeddah civic government to allow women to attend council meetings. All of the characters are appealing and their plights understandable. Futhermore, they are all well-to-do, well-educated and have the potential to influence the social and political realities of Saudi Arabia. Someday. Maybe.
As it’s title suggests, Resist the Power! Saudi Arabia has an underlying political theme that’s of tremendous interest. Making no mention of the obvious international intrigue and political tensions in the Middle East, Ewing and Grady let their characters’ stories lead you to contemplate the film’s political message and arrive at your own point of view. Whatever that might be, it should be clear to all that these Saudi 20-somethings, like 20-somethings everywhere and of all ethnicities, represent humanity’s future. Their aspirations for equality of the sexes and freedom of expression, and the carefully considered and moderate paths by which they hope to achieve them, are admirable. Resist the Power! breaks a lot of stereotypes and opens the door for social debate and enhanced cross-cultural understanding.
Resist the Power! Saudi Arabia premieres on MTV on Monday, May 24, with several subsequent broadcasts and online streaming at MTV.com.
7 Responses
One of the best MTV shows all year. The characters find their way into your heart because they are risking their lives for human rights. As an American, I felt a true brotherhood for the Saudi people, who seem very much like my own but somehow more noble and less ravaged by excesses of my own society. They are repressed, no doubt; but isn’t fear of punishment also keeping them from spinning out of control?
i love america.
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but i love jeddah so much…
i know that jeddah is the nice night city…
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All The Holders of tourism to Saudi Arabia will tell you that these people
Respectable and devout and conservative customs and traditions.>>>
i think those people don’t represent the saudi society! the majority of us (saudis) are proud of our customs & traditions. In fact, we are happy that we are the heart of the noble religion of Islam. Yes, there are some who are not going with them main stream, but they are very little. An American show like true life, which has a specific agenda, would raise up such people just to show that Saudis are changing!! I can tell you that Saudis are changing by returning back to their religion, customs and traditions. I assume one of the reasons why we stick to our religion is a show look like this one!!
Nice comment Saleh. Just what I was hoping, that the Saudi youth are not all trying to rebel and looking for a ‘way out’ and trying their best to go against Islam. The way that this show mixed political and religious views is typical.
“…to other women who are brave enough to break with the male-imposed tradition of wearing conservative, politically correct black”. Male-imposed? Ehhh… they’re taking it too far.
I think that the young people on this show were so very brave! Many people say that the show was biased because they did not show the opposite side, but true life is about showing young people who are doing courageous, strange, interesting, and sometimes inspiring things. There is nothing courageous about conforming to tradition because there is no danger that the government may punish you for simply expressing your thoughts. After watching the show I don’t suddenly think that Saudi Arabia is a horrible place, I’m sure there are many nice things about the country. But, like every country there are issues and things that need to be addressed. I really hope that these young people are not punished because that would only create a negative opinion of the country in many peoples’ eyes. I would also like to say that the real issue this show brought up is one of rights. It is not a question of absolute freedom or repression, but of what people should be allowed to do, a question of the rights the citizens have, don’t have, and should have. We may not all be able to agree on whether woman should cover their bodies or whether religion and government should be intertwined, but I think we can agree that all humans should have the right to express the themselves whether that is through music, fashion, politics, or love! Rights, that is the real issue.
Too far? not at all. Just the truth.
I just watch the MTV True Life in Saudi. It was AWESOME!!!! I am a American but I have lived and worked overseas in Kuwait and Qatar before. I made a lot of friends from Egypt, Oman, Lebanon, Sudan, Somalia, Jordan, Syria etc. But I didn’t meet any Saudis. I thought they were all uptight and super Religious. What impressed me is that these guys are open minded, and trying to make changes. The girl designing the Abayas….You Go Girl!!! I always asked that question….why black? The hotest color in the world for a desert country. Whose idea was that? I’m a muslim and I never read anywhere in the Quran that Allah picked a color for men or women. That is totally Saudi culture….not religion. And the guys in the band….Rock on dudes. And Aziz…you will find your lady. The other girl probably got caught by her family. Don’t blame her. YES WE CAN….and you can too.