Kismet: How Soap Operas Changed the World

An inspirational film that uncovers the impact of Turkish soap operas on women across the Arab world and beyond.

YouTube video Al Jazeera English

Back on June 17, 2010, an article in NY Times wrote about the popularity of Turkish soap opera and its influence: “Politics and culture go hand in hand, here as elsewhere. If most Arabs watch Turkish shows to ogle beautiful people in exotic locales, Arab women have also made clear their particular admiration for the rags-to-riches story of the title character in “Noor,” a strong, business-savvy woman with a doting husband named Muhannad. Dr. Shafira Alghamdi, a Saudi pediatrician, was on vacation here the other day, shopping with two Saudi friends, and volunteered how Arab husbands often ignore their wives, while on “Noor,” within what remains to Arabs a familiar context of arranged marriages, respect for elders and big families living together, Noor and Muhannad openly love and admire each other.”
Read more about the NY Times article here.