struggles in the sand

I’m not really into tv series. Lalo na pag soap operas. I’m too lazy to keep up a schedule pag nasa bahay ako. Ayaw ko rin nong nagmamadali akong umuwi so I won’t miss a tv show. Besides, it takes a lot para ako tumutok sa isang series. Nagsawa na ako sa dry humor ni Frasier, pati sa mga kasong paulit-ulit na sa CSI. Even Grey’s Anatomy naumay na ako. Sa Pinoy tv naman, kung sigawan, sampalan lang at mga bidang nag-iiyakan (even the lead male characters are now weeping like wimps!), wag na lang.

The last one I followed was Dr. Heo Jun, a South Korean soap (see posting beneath the bubbles dtd 24 nov 2007) mainly because it was replete with the Korean culture from customs to costumes, beautiful houses and palaces and breathtaking landscapes. In fact, it was my curiosity with their culture that caught my attention. Then the beautiful story sustained my interest.

This Ramadan, Arabian culture naman ang natutukan ko (dapat lang dahil nandito naman ako sa middle east di ba) when Dubai One showed a series called Seraa Ala El Remal (Struggles in the Sand). It’s an epic based on the lyrical poetry of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed Al-Maktoum of the UAE. Again, it’s the culture that caught me. Then the beautiful story got me hooked. May iyakan pa rin, hindi naman mawawala yon. But it’s way beyond the drama.

It’s a story about love, war, treachery, forgiving and reconciliation between two tribes of the arabian Bedouins. A story beautifully presented by the production team using colorful depiction of traditions, habitation and costumes of men and women in their nomadic life. And so did the cinematography that captured life in the overwhelmingly beautiful yet unforgiving deserts.

Magagaling naman yong mga actors coz they were convincing kahit sabihin pang malayo ang hitsurang artista nila from the real Bedouins. Magaling din yong musical director dahil kahit hindi ko naintindihan yong theme song (which, of course, is in Arabic), it got stuck in my consciousness because of the haunting melody. Most importantly, the director Hatim Ali did a wonderful job of executing a project this size. Something known as tele-movie by the Pinoy tv lovers.

It’s a love story between Fahad and Hanouf, parehong anak ng mga sheikh of two warring tribes. Destiny brought them together in a beautiful brook in the middle of the desert. Fahad fell totally in love with Hanouf and he had to hide his real identity dahil nga magka-away ang tribo nila. Hanouf also felt deeply for the stranger who presented himself as Jawad. Imagine her anguish ng madiscover nya na ang lalaking minahal nya ay isa palang general ng kabilang tribo who is killing her own people in a war that put their love story through hell.

It’s also a story of two fathers – Sheikh Hammad and Sheikh Waddah – mga ama hindi lang ng kani-kanilang pamilya but also of their tribes who depend on them for their guidance and leadership. Nasa kanila ang gist ng story. Both compelled to engage in a war but later on realized the evil it brings. I could only surmise that it was Sheikh Mohammed’s own statement against tribal wars of the early Emirates.

It’s also a story of mothers – Um Amir and Um Fahad. They provided the heart of the story and you have no reason not to sympathize with them when they lost their respective children in a senseless war.

It’s also the story of Amir – Sheikh Waddah’s son and successor – whose kind heart resented war and violence. Parang dito inilagay ni Sheikh Mohammad ang kanyang personality coz Amir started writing poetry noong na-paralyze sya after fighting half-heartedly for his tribe. The poetry resurrected his hope, spirit and faith in God and life.

Behind it all, it’s the story of treacherous Speckled – pamangkin ni Sheikh Waddah (na hindi ko na nakuha ang totoong pangalan ng character. He was simply called speckled dahil may marka sya sa mukha). His hunger for power drove him to plot a devilish plan designed to give him the leadership of the tribe and, on the side, the love of his cousin Hanouf who loathes him. Together with his two cohorts, sya ang nag-orchestrate ng giyera between the tribes starting with the kidnapping of Hasnah and Nemah, both younger daughters of the two Sheikhs. But of course evil will not triumph over good kaya syempre, he was discovered.

Medyo complex ang story but what’s good about it is that well-developed ang lahat ng characters. At nabantayan ang mga actors in their respective portrayal making the whole thing quite believable. Dapat hindi lang sya pang-tv. It could very well be a full-length epic movie.

According to Wikipedia, this is the most expensive Arabic production for television at US$ 6M. Sulit naman dahil talagang maganda. It’s something the arabs can be proud of pagdating sa entertainment world.

And as a Pinoy, ako’y naiinggit. Bakit hindi tayo makagawa ng ganito kagandang production. Something na maipapakita ang kultura ng mga Pinoy. Something that can go beyond the materialistic mall culture na masyado nang sumira sa identity natin as Pinoys. I hope our television stations will come up with something better than remakes of old movies and Caparas’ novels.