The anthology series developed by Egyptian screenwriter Azza Shalaby will explore love at large and relationships up close with stories from Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Tunisia.
Netflix will release a new anthology series titled Love, Life and Everything in Between on March 10.
The series delves into the complex yet beautiful layers of romantic relationships in eight short films directed by award-winning and Oscar-nominated directors from six Arab countries.
The films include National Day of Mourning in Mexico, The Big Red Heart, Sidi Valentin, Kazoz, Glitch Love, Al-A’sha, O’Brother, and Baby doll & Lamb chops.
The films are the work of renowned directors including Khairy Beshara (Egypt), Sandra Bassal (Egypt), co-directors: Hany Abu Assad and Amira Diab (Palestine), Michel Kammoun (Lebanon), Mahmoud Sabbagh (Saudi Arabia), Abdulmohsen AlDhabaan (Saudi Arabia), Kaouther Ben Hania (Tunisia) and Hicham Lasri (Morocco).
In a statement, Netflix said: “Each director tells a story of love through their own lens, infusing a dark comedic twist influenced by their own country and culture. The events of each story take place on Valentine’s Day, a time that challenges lead characters to express love, understand it and live it within unique situations that come with unexpected twists and turns. Audiences are captivated by relatable emotions, familiar settings and the unmatched talents of actors and directors alike.”
Palestinian Directors Hany Abu Assad and Amira Diab, who co-directed the episode entitled Kazoz, set their story in the midst of two seemingly “antithetical” occasions, weddings and funerals. “A wedding celebrates the future, a funeral commemorates the past. But in reality, both serve the present and address an existential need to socialise. Kazoz is the celebration of grieving together in loss, and dancing together in joy,” they stated.
In his film, Lebanese Director Michel Kammoun, uses symbolism to narrate how desirable the idea of falling in love is through a rollercoaster adventure the lead character, Sami, goes on while trying to deliver a Valentine’s Day gift to one of his clients. He pointed out: “There’s no simple answer, only subjective views and shared stories of what love is. That’s what I wanted to create in The Big Red Heart, an untamable huge and out-of-this-world stuffed Valentine gift that becomes the alter ego of love itself. The metaphor of love in all its grandeur.”
When describing her work, Tunisian Director Kaouther Ben Hania said: “Valentine’s Day is a holiday that requires spending, and money is bound to be the quintessential proof of love. Penniless, our hero must find a way to buy a gift for his wife.” In Baby Doll and Lamb Chops, the director takes us on a journey with the owner of a slaughterhouse who is in the middle of a financial crisis and how he struggles to make ends meet, almost driving himself crazy to give his wife the perfect Valentine’s.
Moroccan Director Hicham Lasri added: “My film, Sidi Valentin, adopts the codes of black comedy to ironically play with this idea of a world that has accommodated itself to clandestinity that St Valentine’s Day tints with red.”
Produced by Union of Video & Filmmakers (Project Producer: Antoine Khalife), the show will be available in 190 countries on Netflix, subbed in 33 languages, and dubbed to five languages.
Romance, drama and dark humour intertwine in this anthology series developed by Egyptian screenwriter Azza Shalaby will explore love at large and relationships up close with stories from Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Tunisia.
