Arab Labor
Encyclopedia
Arab Labor is a sitcom television series, produced in Israel
. The series which premiered on Keshet
Channel 2 in Israel in 2007 and on Link TV
in the Fall of 2008, was created by Sayed Kashua
.
The series (whose title in colloquial Hebrew carries the implication of “shoddy or second-rate work,”) focused on the family and work situations, of Amjad, a Palestinian journalist and Israeli citizen. Much of the comedy is derived from the paradox of Amjad's love-hate relationship with his Arab identity and his simultaneous wish to integrate comfortably into Israeli society.
Poking fun at the cultural divide, Kashua's characters play on religious, cultural and political differences to daringly depict the mixed society prevalent in Jerusalem. The show marked a milestone on Israeli television as the first program to present Palestinian characters speaking Arabic on primetime. Arab Labor has generated great controversy but, nevertheless, has managed to be internationally successful.
Arab Labor was released on DVD with a portion of every sale going to support Link TV.
The Chicago Tribune
described it as "…a groundbreaking TV show that finds humor in sharing a homeland."
The New York Times commented that "Kashua has managed to barge through cultural barriers and bring an Arab point of view into the mainstream of Israeli entertainment."
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. The series which premiered on Keshet
Keshet (TV)
Keshet Broadcasting or Keshet is a media group and leading television program maker licensed in Israel. Keshet operates under the auspices of the Second Israeli Broadcasting Authority . It is one of two operators that have run the main Israeli commercial television channel, Channel 2, since 1993,...
Channel 2 in Israel in 2007 and on Link TV
Link TV
Link TV is a non-commercial American satellite television network providing "diverse perspectives on world and national issues." It is carried nationally on DirecTV and Dish Network. Link TV was launched as a daily, 24-hour non-commercial network in 1999...
in the Fall of 2008, was created by Sayed Kashua
Sayed Kashua
Sayed Kashua is an Israeli Arab author and journalist born in Tira, Israel, known for his books and humoristic columns in Hebrew.-Biography:...
.
The series (whose title in colloquial Hebrew carries the implication of “shoddy or second-rate work,”) focused on the family and work situations, of Amjad, a Palestinian journalist and Israeli citizen. Much of the comedy is derived from the paradox of Amjad's love-hate relationship with his Arab identity and his simultaneous wish to integrate comfortably into Israeli society.
Poking fun at the cultural divide, Kashua's characters play on religious, cultural and political differences to daringly depict the mixed society prevalent in Jerusalem. The show marked a milestone on Israeli television as the first program to present Palestinian characters speaking Arabic on primetime. Arab Labor has generated great controversy but, nevertheless, has managed to be internationally successful.
Cast
- Amjad (Norman Issa) – A Palestinian-Israeli journalist working in Jerusalem
- Meir (Mariano IdelmanMariano IdelmanMariano Idelman is an Israeli actor and comedian. He is well known for acting in the popular TV show Eretz Nehederet.-Career:In 1996 he appeared in Dudu Topaz's stand-up comedy show called The First in Entertainment with Eli Finish, and signed a 2-year contract with the show.Idelman and Finish...
) – Amjad's Jewish-Israeli coworker at the magazine - Bushra (Clara KhouryClara KhouryClara Khoury is an Israeli - Palestinian actress.Clara works in film, television and theater, acting in Arabic, Hebrew, English and French.- Biography :...
) – Amjad's wife - Amal (Mira AwadMira AwadMīrā ’Anwar ‘Awaḍ is an Israeli Arab singer, actress, and songwriter.‘Awaḍ lives in Tel Aviv, Israel. In 2009, she was chosen to represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest along with Jewish-Israeli singer Achinoam Nini, singing the song There Must Be Another Way. She was the first Arab to...
) – A Palestinian-Israeli attorney to whom Meir is attracted - Ismael (Salim Dau) – Amjad's father
- Umm (Salwa Nakra) – Amjad's mother
- Maya (Fatma Yihye) – Amjad and Bushra's daughter
Production
Funding for the series has been provided by the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art.Arab Labor was released on DVD with a portion of every sale going to support Link TV.
Reception
Arab Labor has been critically successful.The Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
described it as "…a groundbreaking TV show that finds humor in sharing a homeland."
The New York Times commented that "Kashua has managed to barge through cultural barriers and bring an Arab point of view into the mainstream of Israeli entertainment."
Reviews
- "Finding Humor and Truth Amid Conflict," Los Angeles Times, November 15, 2008
- "Meet the Palestinian Seinfeld," San Francisco Chronicle, November 13, 2008
- "Israeli sitcom about Arabs a hit," Variety, February 1, 2008
- "TV comedy depicts world of the Arab Israeli," International Herald Tribune, January 7, 2008
- "'Avoda Aravit' - breaking TV barriers," Jerusalem Post, January 29, 2008