An Egyptian lawyer has sued Netflix and demanded that the service be shut down in the country. However, there are different views about Cleopatra’s background.
The new documentary-drama film of the streaming service Netflix has caught the teeth of both archaeologists and lawyers in Egypt.
In the movie Queen Cleopatra, which will be released in May, the Egyptian royal who ruled two thousand years ago will be played by a black actor Adele James.
After seeing the movie trailer lawyer Mahmoud al-Semari claimed (you switch to another service)shutting down Netfilix in Egypt, which made the series. He demands the initiation of legal proceedings against the makers of the documentary drama. According to the complaint, the film wants to “erase the Egyptian identity”.
Al-Semari is also dissatisfied with Netflix’s content in general and says that “most of what Netflix presents does not agree with Islamic and social values, especially Egyptian values”.
According to critics, the Cleopatra episode of the series featuring African queens does not follow history and promotes “Africa-centrism”, i.e. a worldview that emphasizes the importance of black Africa.
Also a well-known archaeologist and Egyptologist Zahi Hawass dispels the idea that Cleopatra was black.
– He was Greek, which means he was blond, Hawass says.
The history of Cleopatra’s mother is unknown
However, the filmmakers defend their choices, and say that Cleopatra’s background has been debated for a long time.
The identity of Cleopatra’s mother is unknown. Among other things, according to the BBC (you will switch to another service) there are views that his mother or one of the female ancestors was Egyptian or from elsewhere in Africa.
Also for example, the BBC’s investigative team (you go to another service) is of the opinion that Cleopatra would have been partly black.
– We don’t often see or hear stories about black queens. However, it is important for me, as well as my daughter and my whole community, to know these stories because there are so many of them, says the producer Jada Pinkett Smith.
Cleopatra was born in the Egyptian city of Alexandria in 69 BC. She was the last queen of the Greek-speaking dynasty in Egypt. Cleopatra was queen from 51 to 30 BC.
Actress Adele James has received hate messages
The British Adele James, who plays Cleopatra in the series, has received hate mail on social media because of her part. He rejects criticism and urges to get acquainted with different points of view.
– If you don’t like the role, skip the show. Or look and listen to differing views as well, James urges.
See also the documentary on Areena The Glory of Egypt: