‘Halal Love’ tackles sensitive issues through comedy

AMMAN — A romantic comedy following the intertwined marital dramas of three Lebanese women was screened in Amman on Monday as part of the Arab Film Festival. 

Speaking to The Jordan Times before the screening, Lebanese Director Assad Fouladkar said “Halal Love” was inspired by his childhood and by true stories around him. 

“One woman is fed up with her husband as she is tired at night, after working at home during the day,” the director explained. 

Tired of her husband’s constant advances, she looks for a second wife for him. 

Another woman is battling with a jealous husband who divorces her three times, but then changes his mind. However, he cannot marry her again unless she marries someone else first, according to Sharia.

The third woman, a recent divorcee, wants to marry again but her lover has a family, so she enters into a temporary marriage, which is only allowed by Shiite Islam.

Fouladkar noted that the film tackled sensitive issues, but said that by making the film a comedy, it was easier to approach controversial topics.  

“We Arab Muslims are real people. Our biggest concern is to have peace inside the family,” he said.

“We don’t want to make revolutions; we want to make peace within the family. This is our biggest role,” he added.

“Halal Love” has been screened at several international film festivals, including the Sundance Film Festival, the Dubai International Film Festival and Rotterdam International Film Festival.