Rigal Al Hasim: Exciting New Ramadan Series!

This new and exciting Ramadan drama currently airs on Abu Dhabi TV at 23:00 KSA time. It stars Basil Khayat, a Syrian actor, and Maya Nasri, a Lebanese actress/singer. The show includes actors from Syria, Lebanon and many more Arab countries.

What grabbed my attention to this series is the plot. The whole drama revolves around the Arab-Israeli conflict, but precisely, Syrian-Israeli conflict about the Golan Heights. The series begins in 1967. From the promos and ads, Rigal al Hasim is beautifully shot in real-life locations in the Golan Heights, West Bank, and I think Israel. Many actors and actresses also learned a little Hebrew in their work and research.

Now the first episode introduces us to the life of Fares (Basil Khayat) who is a Golani. He is a teacher in a school and is a young man that is very interested in politics. His lifestyle is depicted as simple, yet his mind is complex. The Six Day War is about to begin and everyone is afraid of the consequences. The heads of state are very confident of a victory yet the people are worried.

By the third episode, the 1967 War began and the tragedies unfolded right at the start. Part of Fares' family is dead, his younger brother and mother. His father and sister are left and prepare to leave for Damascus. Fares chooses to stay behind and fight the war. He can't leave his home for the Israelis to come and occupy it. His bravery is shown during the fighting sequences when he chooses to risk his life to help many wounded soldiers. His determination to fight for his homeland also shows.

I'm very excited about the rest of this show, and I wait for it by the minute. What do you think of Rigal al Hasim? Are you currently watching it? I'll try to summarize each episode in a small post everyday as to keep those of you who are unable to watch it updated!

Kasr al Hob: The Movie

As I promised you yesterday, I was going to put up a summary of the Asmali Konan: Hayat movie. This explains the foggy ending of the series and how they left the audience hanging at Maram and Husam's departure. Well let us begin. But please know that I did not understand all of the events that were happening in the movie.

In the beginning, the movie starts out with a vivid dream. The only problem is, I don't know who's dreaming it. Twisted events occur in this dream, Husam is hitting Maram, after Maram sees that Najla's son is also the son of Husam. Then Maram goes into a deep sleep and it was all so vivid, and surreal. Those are the best words to describe it.

After that, Maram is seen in the hospital, with her head all shaved and in a coma. The doctors see that the cancer is actually declining while she is in the coma, which is a source of happiness for the staff. Husam, however, is nowhere to be seen. Maram seems to be shot and her husband is suspected of this, because of his disappearance.

When that is explained, Husam is shown to be in a homeless gathering, his hair very long and dirty, and an overall different look than your used to. He's going crazy, shouting, and yelling and laughing. He seems like he doesn't remember anything at all of his past life.

After intensive searching and investigating in Husam's disappearance, they are able to find him. And what I mean by they is Alia Beik and Bakir, who were visiting Maram at the time. Just as he seemed, Husam doesn't know anyone and doesn't remember anything. So a psychologist helps him. But when he starts remembering, everything is backward. Maram is with Yamen, and Najla is Husam's wife. He hates Maram with all his heart for some reason I did not understand.

He starts imagining or actually living in the past of when they first came to New York for treatment. He remembers how much he loved Maram, and they're relationship during that short time. And finally he remembers that fateful night and the reason why Maram is in a coma. They were walking together late at night, when about three robbers approached them and threatened Husam with a gun, while they were hurting Maram. Husam tried to surprise the robber and take the gun away from him however it ends up firing at Manar. The robbers run and Maram collapses on the ground. Husam panics and goes out of his mind while he walks away. And that leads us to the present.

Shortly after, in the present, Maram wakes up from her coma and her cancer has declined to a point where it doesn't exist anymore. She is reunited with Husam, and there the movie ends!

So what do you think of it? I thought that they should have the ending of when Maram is reunited with the whole family in Turkey and her daughter, Hayat especially.

Kasr al Hob: Beautiful Turkish Drama

Kasr al Hob, or the Palace of Love in English is a Turkish Drama that just finished airing two days ago on MBC. In Turkish, the name of this drama is Asmali Konak, literally translating into the Ivy Mansion. Different translations yet the same brilliant story!

Let me start with the plot and storyline. The story is of a very important family. In the first episode, a tragic event takes place which is the death of the head of the family and the beloved husband and father. Husam, the oldest son, takes the place of his father as agha and all the responsibility of the family business rests on his shoulders. His life is split in between New York and Turkey.

When Husam is in New York, he meets a beautiful girl, Maram, and they fall in love and decide to get married. Maram is an artistic person and is very liberal unlike Husam's family. Yet he chooses to take her home and they marry. At first, his mother, Suad Khanom, objects to the marriage. But as the story progresses, Maram and Suad develop a good relationship. All of the characters' lives revolve around this Palace, that is not in Istanbul, but in Antalya I think in a very strange and alien landscape full of big rocks and desert, which adds to the charm of the show.

After Maram and Husam get married, they have a beautiful baby daughter, Hayat that changes their lives for the better. Throughout the episodes, the characters encounter problems, big and small and how they solve these. The theme of Kasr al Hob in my opinion, is eternal love. Nothing can damage or affect Husam and Maram's love.

At the end of the drama, Maram starts experiencing symptoms of dizziness, and low blood pressure. She is diagnosed with cancer and Husam is devastated. Maram is the only one that does not know of this, and is very optimistic. The whole family is shattered. Husam tells Maram that they have to go to New York because their company will be trading with another company in the United States. The true purpose is to have treatment in the US for Maram. Maram is ecstatic. After a heartbreaking scene of goodbyes and especially to Husam and Maram's daughter Hayat, they head off to New York. The last scene is of a sad scene of Hayat crying because her mother left her.

I was extremely upset that they had ended the show here, because I wanted to know if Maram lived or not. So I did a little research and found out that after the series, the director made a movie called Asmali Konan: Hayat, or the Ivy Mansion: Hayat. I watched it on YouTube in Turkish and tried to decipher what was happening from the English comments that I read. I'll post another article tomorrow on what happens in this movie!

I'm Back! Finally Right!

Hi Everyone and Ramadan Karim, it feel so great to be back to this blog. I remember all the good times I had on it and how much responses I got back. And now I'm glad to see that it has gained popularity in the past several months, yet I apologize so much for not updating for about three months. I feel so ashamed, but I have an excuse! :) I was in Damascus and it was impossible to post anything to the Damascene Breeze, as my blog is blocked over there. Maybe it's because of the politics.. lol? Anyway I'm glad to say that I'm back to posting, and the Damascene Breeze will not only be about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict yet it will be about many Middle Eastern topics, being politics or society-related. And maybe I'll throw in a couple of entertainment articles for the fun of it, as in Ramadan there will be a lot of new series and dramas.

I also feel ashamed to say that I have not been following up on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict so
I have a lot of catching up to do and a lot of research as well. This topic cannot be addressed in 35 articles and there will be more I hope. As I write, I'm remembering the time when I was digging for information and reading any book I could get my hands on about this topic. And I hope I could get back to that state. I wouldn't call it loss of interest at the moment, my interest is just a little weaker but I will strengthen it to provide you with articles that offer insight in the everyday life in Israel/Palestine and the whole Middle East as well.

I also visited Beirut this summer and I am happy to say that Lebanon is added on my list of interesting topics as I have gained tremendous admiration for the city and the country as a whole. Expect a lot of articles about Beirut, current or not.

I'm confused under what genre this blog would be classified under: Israeli-Palestinian, Middle Eastern Politics, Entertainment, Middle Eastern society. All of these probably but the one theme here that is common among all of these titles is Middle Eastern. All articles are about the Middle East, may it be political conflicts or a new drama that is airing. So tune in the coming months and see what articles capture your interest. I'm also up to suggestions, so please whatever is on your mind, let it reach me! I want to say thank you for everyone that was visiting this blog in the summer and I am very sorry that I didn't update. Hopefully I could gain you back as loyal visitors to this blog! Thank You!