Al Hayba
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Al Hayba | |
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Genre | Drama |
Created by |
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Developed by | Samer Barqawi |
Written by |
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Starring | |
Country of origin | Lebanon |
Original languages | Arabic (Lebanese standard, Lebanese Baalbeki, and Syrian dialects) |
No. of seasons | 3 |
No. of episodes | 90 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers | Ali and Sadek Sabbah |
Producer | Sabbah Brothers |
Production location | Lebanese village near the Lebanese Mountain |
Running time | 45 minutes |
Original release | |
Network | MBC and MTV Lebanon |
Release | 27 May 2017 present | –
Al Hayba (Arabic: الهيبة) is a Lebanese-Syrian drama television series directed by Samer Barqawi and starring Taim Hasan, Nadine Nassib Njeim in Season 1.[1] The series first aired on Middle East Broadcasting Center (MBC) to the Arab world on 27 May 2017. As an Arab Ramadan series, the drama is released during the month of Ramadan. Season 2 was released on MBC in May 2018. Netflix picked up season 1 and provided English, Chinese, Hebrew, French, Spanish, Turkish and Greek subtitles.
The series is set in a fictional Lebanese village of "Al Hayba" near the Lebanese-Syrian border, and is centered around the prominent Lebanese "Sheikh Al Jabal" clan.
Plot
The story follows members of a fictional Lebanese clan, Sheikh Al Jabal, near the Syrian border. The family is part of a larger tribe that has an ongoing historic feud with the Lebanese Al Said clan in the village of Al Hayba. The two families constantly struggle against one another, along with internal strife. The series is in Lebanese standard dialect, Lebanese Baalbek dialect, and the Syrian dialect of Arabic.
Cast
The cast includes a number of well known and novice Lebanese and Syrian actors and actresses.
Character | Actor | Actor's name in Arabic script | Actor's country of origin |
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Jabal | Taim Hasan | تيم حسن | ![]() |
Alia (Season 1) | Nadine Nassib Njeim | نادين نسيب نجيم | ![]() |
Nour Rahma (Season 3) | Cyrine Abdelnour | سيرين عبد النور | ![]() |
Nahed Imran | Muna Wassef | منى واصف | ![]() |
Sakher | Oweiss Mkhallalati | أويس مخللاتي | ![]() |
Chahine | Abdo Chahine | عبدو شاهين | ![]() |
Mona | Rozina Lazkani | روزينا لاذقاني | ![]() |
Ali (Season 3) | Said Serhan | سعيد سرحان | ![]() |
Majdi | Michael Hourani | ميشال حوراني | ![]() |
Dr. Ghada | Carla Boutros | كارلا بطرس | ![]() |
Em Chahine (Chahine's Mother) | Kitam Alaham | ختام اللحام | ![]() |
Rima | Zeinab Hind Khadra | زينب هند خضرة | ![]() |
Em Ali | Layla Qamri | ليلى قمري | ![]() |
Maternal Uncle of Jabal (Nahed's Brother) | Najah Safkouni | نجاح سفكوني | ![]() |
Ghazi (Jabal's paternal uncle, & father of Chahine) | Khalid Alsayed | خالد السيد | ![]() |
Essa "the attorney" | Patrick | باتريك | ![]() |
Maryam (Season 2) | Valerie Abou Chacra | فاليري أبو شقرا | ![]() |
Criticism
Regional stereotypes
In 2018, a lawsuit was filed against the show, alleging that it promoted stereotypes of Baalbek as criminal, including widespread drug use and violence.[2] In response, Cedars Art Production referenced the show's disclaimer that all details are fictional. Viewers have linked the show's fictional setting to Baalbeck due to proximity to the Syrian border, use of regional dialect,[3] and history of familial conflicts.[2]
Representations of women and domestic violence
Lead actress Nadine Nassib Njeim turned down the season 2 contract due to lack of her role's prominence and described the show as a predominantly male story.[4]
Critics claim that an episode in which actor Taim Hasan's character beats his wife Sumaya, played by Nicole Saba, normalizes domestic violence.[5]
Season 1
The events of season 1 take place after the second season chronologically. Season 1 follows the story of Alia (played by Nadine Nassib Njeim), a Lebanese woman that lives in Canada with her son Joe (Jabal Jr), and her husband Adel. Adel was born to a Lebanese father Sultan Sheikh Al Jabal, and a Syrian mother Nahed (played by Muna Wassef). Adel passes away in Canada and based on his wishes is brought to Lebanon for burial. Adel's family are of the prominent Sheikh Al Jabal clan located in Al Hayba Lebanon. When Alia meets her deceased husband's family they want to keep her child with them. Her mother-in-law stipulates that she can only stay with her son if she marries her eldest son, Jabal Sr (played by Syrian actor Taim Hasan), Alia's deceased husband's brother. Alia lodges a complaint against the family at the Canadian embassy. Through a series of events, Alia falls in love with Jabal Senior who has many enemies that he, Alia, and his family must face. The season ends with Jabal publicly executing the eldest son of the rival family (Al Said) after causing trouble and leading the police to the village of Al Hayba, all leading up to the events of the third season.
Season 2
Season 2 (The Return) was released on MBC and MTV Lebanon in May 2018, and included 30 episodes. Nadine Nassib Njeim (Alia) is not in season 2. The majority of the Season 2 is a prequel to Season 1 when Jabal's father Sultan Sheikh Al Jabal and his brother Adel Sheikh Al Jabal (Alia's husband) are still alive. His paternal uncle Ghazi Sheikh Al Jabal (Chahine's father) is not imprisoned. The season provides context for the feudal and interfamilial strife.
Season 3
In September 2018, Season 3 (The Harvest) was announced to be another season of Al Hayba, which was eventually released in May 2019, starring Taim Hassan as Jabal Sheikh al Jabal and Cyrine Abdelnour as Nour Rahme, a well-known presenter. in the final episode of the series Jabal Sheikh Aljabal is shot dead inside his car. However, it was confirmed that the scene was Nour's imagination.
Season 4
In 2019, Season 4 (The Response) was announced to be another season of Al Hayba, starring Taim Hassan as Jabal Sheikh al Jabal and Dima Kandalaft.[6]
Broadcast
Country | Channel | Series premiere | Language | Title | Seasons released |
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Middle East Broadcasting Center and MTV Lebanon | May 2017 | Arabic | Al Hayba | Season 1 |
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Middle East Broadcasting Center and MTV Lebanon | May 2018 | Arabic | Al Hayba | Season 2 |
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Middle East Broadcasting Center and MTV Lebanon | May 2019 | Arabic | Al Hayba | Season 3 |
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MBC Persia | June 2020 | Persian | اعتبار | Season 1 |
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MBC Persia | July 2020 | Persian | اعتبار | Season 2 |
Internationally | Netflix | September 2018 | Arabic (English, French, Spanish, Chinese subtitles) | Al Hayba | Season 1 |
References
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ a b "Lawyers seek to block popular TV show 'Al Hayba El Awda' - Annahar Staff". An-Nahar. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
- ^ "The controversy over Al Hayba-El Awda: Why now? - Sally Farhat". An-Nahar. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
- ^ "'Al Hayba' director Samer Al Barkawi says the third season is well under way with Cyrine Abdelnour in the lead". The National. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ Itani, Amani (12 June 2018). "This Ramadan series encourages domestic abuse, and people are furious". StepFeed. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
- ^ "هذا هو دور ديما قندلفت في "الهيبة 4"". annahar.com (in Arabic). 24 December 2019.