Is Saudi Arabia finally becoming progressive? First cinema screening, and fashion week held

By Prarthana Mitra

In a massive step forward, Saudi Arabia has lifted a 35-year-old cinema ban, under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s new liberalisation programme. The country’s first operational movie theatre in decades premiered the Hollywood blockbuster Black Panther, in a private red carpet screening on Wednesday.

Here’s what happened

In a country that is infamous for its stringent censorship rules, conservative values, and violation of basic human rights, Vox notes the irony of screening a film that champions gender equality and cultural and racial diversity. However, the move sends a message that the Middle Eastern country is willing to change, and it wants the whole world to notice.

While select guests were privy to an invite-only screening at the AMC Theatres, the rest of the country will have to wait till next Friday to enjoy the superhero flick on the silver screen. AMC has also pledged to build at least 100 theatres across 25 cities in the country by 2030.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture has declared that the movies shown in the country “will be subject to censorship according to media policy standards of the Kingdom, stressing that will be in line with values and principles in place and do not contradict with Sharia Laws and moral values in the Kingdom.”

Black Panther was also subject to similar regulations. Disney’s regional distributor Italia Film confirmed that 40 seconds of the film portraying violence and sexual overtones have been removed.

The segregation-free film screening meant that Saudi men and women could enjoy the 10th highest grossing film of all time together, sitting next to each other. Credit: Metro UK/AP Photo/Amr Nabil

While Saudi cinephiles will be enjoying the tale of Wakanda at the theatres, in other progressive news, the country had its first fashion week earlier this month. Held at Ritz-Carlton Riyadh, the first official fashion week of Saudi Arabia was, “an amazing opportunity to shift the disconnect in the minds of outsiders about Saudi women, how they design and how they dress. Women here have been waiting for years for a time to shine,” said Marriam Mossalli, a luxury consultant in Jeddah, the New York Times reported.

The event showcased a wide range of “modest fashion” with arabesque roots, and saw celebrated designers Jean Paul Gaultier and Roberto Cavalli flying in from all around the world.

Why you should care

The segregation-free film screening meant that Saudi men and women could enjoy the 10^th highest grossing film of all time together, sitting next to each other.

“It’s a new era, a new age. It’s that simple. Things are changing, progress is happening. We’re opening up and we’re catching up with everything that’s happening in the world,’ said Rahaf Alhendi, who attended the show, Metro reported.

Doing away with this brutal repression of visual entertainment, is a huge symbolic step for a country that reportedly continues to treat its women as second-class citizens, is guilty of war crimes on foreign soil, and resorts to medieval punishment for criminals. Women here have to still abide by guardianship laws, which give their male relatives the power to make decisions that affect their daily lives.

Social media has been abuzz with praise for Prince bin Salman since the new changes were announced. “Finally, we can join the 21st century,” one woman posted on Twitter. “He’s going to change history,” said another user.

Saudi’s crown prince has been spearheading the liberalisation of the country’s strict, and longstanding social restrictions. This has included reining in the religious police, introducing public concerts, lifting bans on cinemas and allowing women to drive. One can only hope that this will bring forth a new dawn to end the years of oppressive social constructs.