Tag: SWANA

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For AANHPI Heritage Month, Here are 50 West Asians in Pop Culture You Should Know

Swara Salih

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, a cause for celebration of these many diverse communities. But far too often, many who champion this month have belied and ignored specific groups within this collective, often presenting a limited scope of who counts as “Asian” or “Asian American” in this collective consciousness.

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Movies, Podcasts

The Middle Geeks Episode 53: ‘Polite Society’ Review with Roxana Hadadi

Swara Salih

We welcome Rocky back on the podcast to review Nida Manzoor’s Desi martial arts-comedy-epic, Polite Society! We also discuss the harrowing news out of Sudan, a new African animation anthology that includes Egypt and Egyptian creators, give our recommendations for the week, and much more!

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Podcasts, Theatre

The Middle Geeks Episode 52: Senzel Ahmady on Playing Princess Jasmine in ‘Aladdin’

Swara Salih

We welcome Afghan-Filipina-American actress Senzel Ahmady on the podcast, and discuss her taking on the iconic role of Princess Jasmine in the touring Aladdin musical!

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Streaming, Television

Netflix’s ‘Mo’ Will Return for a Second and Final Season

Swara Salih

With audiences left hanging on a drastic cliffhanger at the end of Season 1, Netflix has thankfully renewed Mo for a second and final season that will conclude the story of Mo Najjar (Mo Amer), his girlfriend Maria (Teresa Ruiz), and their family and friends.

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Podcasts, Television, Theatre

The Middle Geeks Episode 48: Tala Ashe on Her Career and the Situation in Iran

The Nerds of Color

Like us, you know her, you love her as Zari Tarazi on Legends of Tomorrow, it’s Tala Ashe herself on the podcast! Mae has a riveting conversation with Tala on her life and career, her time as Zari on Legends, what she learned about herself playing the role, her theater roles in the SWANA plays English and The Vagrant Trilogy, and much more!

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Interview, Movies, Sports

Director Sally El Hosaini on Showcasing the Refugee Experience in ‘The Swimmers’

Swara Salih

The Swimmers is the powerful and visceral story of real life Syrian sisters Yusra and Sara Mardini and their journey from war-torn Syria to Germany, and Yusra’s entry into the 2016 Rio Olympics. Groundbreaking in its showcasing of a refugee story, the film takes viewers on a journey through the Mediterranean and Europe, showcasing their various trials and tribulations as the strive forward to achieve their dream.

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Movies, Sports, Trailers

‘The Swimmers’ on Netflix Makes a Riveting Splash with First Trailer

Swara Salih

For over a decade, the Syrian Civil War has seen the deaths of hundreds of thousands and the displacement of millions of Syrians, and the war sees no signs of ending. But among those who have had to escape their home country, hope and perseverance has persisted among many Syrians, as shown in the riveting first trailer for The Swimmers, set to debut in select US theaters on November 11 and on Netflix November 23.

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DC Comics, Movies, Reviews3 Comments

‘Black Adam’ is Less Than the Sum of its Parts but Still a Fun Time

Swara Salih

“The hierarchy of power in the DC Universe is about to change,” we’ve heard for weeks on end from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Did it really change that much with the release of Black Adam? Honestly? Yeah, kind of!

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DC Comics, Interview, Movies1 Comment

Sarah Shahi and Mo Amer on ‘Black Adam’ and Speaking Truth to (Super)Power

Jason Sperber

With Black Adam poised to be the DCEU’s latest foray onto the big screen, we recently got to sit down with stars Sarah Shahi and Mohammed “Mo” Amer to talk about their roles in the film, the importance of representation, and the ability of diverse stories to speak truth to power.

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Interview, Streaming1 Comment

The Cast of ‘Ramy’ on What’s in Store for the Hassan Family in Season 3

Swara Salih

When we find the Hassan family at the start of Ramy Season 3, the son of the family has brought not only shame, but severe consequences for his family that threaten the life they’ve built in the States. Where do they go from here, and will they ever be able to pay back their debts? How will the Hassan family change through their experiences this season?

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Reviews, Streaming, Television

‘Ramy’ Season 3 is As Funny and Engaging As Ever

Swara Salih

Ramy is never an easy show to watch. It’s compelling and funny, but it never shies away from showing the (many) faults of its title character, and occasionally those of his family and friends.

Slight setup spoilers for Ramy Season 3 follow:

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Streaming, Television, Trailers

‘Ramy’ Season 3 Teases a Spiritual Crisis for the Hassan Family

Swara Salih

Ramy Hassan’s stated journey has been finding moral clarity on his life and what it means to be a good Muslim. Only problem is, he’s a constantly selfish screw-up. When we left him at the end of last season, he was at his lowest and most morally depraved, having completely humiliated his new (and immediately former) wife Zainab (MaameYaa Boafo), and rightfully enraging her father Sheikh Ali Malek (Mahershala Ali). Where does he go from here, and how will this inform his apparent crisis of faith in Islam?

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Streaming, Television

Mo Amer Brings the Palestinian Experience to the Screen with Netflix’s ‘Mo’

Swara Salih

When Hulu’s Ramy premiered in 2019 on Hulu, it was heralded as a landmark for Egyptian, Arab, and Muslim representation in Western media. Representation for Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) people remains scant, even with the small gains made, but it’s been especially rare for Palestinians, who must constantly endure attempted erasure in their homeland in Palestine and abroad.

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