Union Rules

If you're Egyptian you've got to be careful who you work with nowadays. Wouldn't want to get, you know, contaminated in any way:

A rising Egyptian film star who plays the son-in-law of Saddam Hussein in a British Broadcasting Corporation drama faces a possible ban on performing in Egypt for acting with an Israeli in the film.

Actor Amr Waked, now shooting in Tunisia, ran into trouble when his union learned that Israeli actor Yigal Naor is playing the role of the ousted and executed dictator in the drama about his life.

Waked, who appeared alongside Hollywood star George Clooney in the 2005 blockbuster Syriana, defended his position, telling several Egyptian papers he did not know an Israeli was involved until after he signed the contract.

He also said the film was pro-Arab, and criticizes US foreign policy, according to the Egyptian Mail.

"The position of the union is clear in its rejection of normalization [with Israel], and requires that members abide by this position," Ashraf Zaki, the head of the union, said.

"Amr Waked is playing the role of the husband of Saddam's daughter opposite an Israeli who plays Saddam ... Amr will be facing an investigation as soon as he returns [from filming]," Zaki said.

He also said the film was pro-Arab, and criticizes US foreign policy. As it's a BBC production, he's on safe ground there.

Comments

[Noga]

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose...

When Omar Sharif was cast as Nicky Arnstein opposite Barbra Streisand's Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl" (1968), his films were banned in his native Egypt because he made love to a Jewish woman onscreen.

[sackcloth and ashes]

Well that's a really depressing story, and it highlights the problems involved in getting the Egyptians to agree to a peace treaty with Israel ...

Oh ...

Hang on ...