Tunisian actor Mohamed Mrad reacted publicly, this Thursday, to the lively controversy triggered by the broadcast of certain scenes from the film Dabous El Ghoul, in which he holds one of the main roles.
In a publication on his Instagram account, the actor wanted to apologize “to all the people who perceived any affront to their beliefs in the scene”.
The film, broadcast during the JCC in 2021 and from which extracts were relayed online, caused an uproar on social networks. Several Internet users have accused the production, and in particular the character embodied by Mohamed Mrad, of undermining religious symbols and of “representing the sacred in a displaced manner”.
Without going into the details of the scenario, some criticisms of social platforms believe that the roles entrusted to the actors are similar to a “personification of the divine”, which was perceived as a red line in a sensitive cultural and religious context. Other internet users, which are less clear -cut, have on the contrary called to view the work in its entirety before judging.
In addition, another debate emerged around actor Jamal Sassi, whose appearance in the film poster sowed confusion. Some questioned his exact role in history, suggesting that he too could embody a religious or symbolic figure, thus reinforcing the controversy.
