Gulf states protest Netflix's 'The Goat Life' while ignoring the kafala system

Gulf states are protesting the new Netflix film for 'misrepresentation' but ignoring a more critical and problematic issue: the kafala system.

MENA

3 min read

The New Arab Staff

29 August, 2024

Credit: Prithviraj Productions / Netflix

The nearly three-hour film portrays the hardships of a Malayali Indian migrant worker who was coerced into working without pay as an isolated goat herder in Saudi Arabia [Prithviraj Productions/Netflix]

Audiences in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states have called for the boycott of Netflix's latest film, Aadujeevitham: The Goat Life, accusing the streaming giant of damaging the country's image.

The nearly three-hour film portrays the hardships of a Malayali Indian migrant worker who was coerced into working without pay as an isolated goat herder in Saudi Arabia, sparking considerable backlash from many in the kingdom who accuse it of misrepresenting the country.

The film, written and directed by Blessy Ipe Thomas, also known as Blessy, and featuring Indian actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, begins with the story of a young man from Kerala whose Saudi sponsor, or "kafeel", forces him into a life of solitude in the desert.

Over time, the young man's isolation takes a toll on his mental state, causing him to lose his sense of time, and eventually, even his ability to speak or think clearly.

The movie, based on a bestseller titled Goat Days by Indian author Benyamin, is inspired by the true story of an Indian migrant named Najeeb Muhammed which follows the man's harrowing, years-long struggle.

The portrayal has sparked controversy across the Gulf, where the controversial kafala system runs, with calls to boycott both the film and the streaming platform Netflix for "misrepresenting" the labour system and damaging the image of Saudi Arabia.

Some online critics said they had viewed the film as a "conspiracy" against Riyadh, accusing the producers of "fabricating" claims and targeting "the land of the Two Holy Mosques".

Some also blamed Algeria and Jordan, where the film was primarily shot, for "colluding" with India in the process of making the film, while others questioned Netflix's motives in streaming it.

However, the boycott calls ignore a far more critical issue; the region's ongoing use of the kafala system, a labour system widely condemned as "abusive" by leading rights groups.

The kafala system - dubbed "modern-day slavery" - remains prevalent in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, granting employers significant control over migrant labourers, often leading to exploitation and abuse.

Reports from rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, documented countless cases of workers subjected to inhumane conditions, denied basic freedoms, and forced into exploitative labour arrangements under the system.

The selective outrage over the film's portrayal of Saudi Arabia, while ignoring the realities faced by foreign workers and the shortcomings of the sponsorship system, did not go unnoticed.

"They are calling for the boycott of the movie not because of any inaccuracies, but because it dares to expose the realities of the kafala system in the Middle East that they would rather keep hidden," one Reddit user said.

"My heart goes out to anyone who has been a victim of human trafficking and slavery, may their culprits pay for the crime and may the victims find safety and healing," another Reddit user said.

Arab film critics concluded: "Despite the controversy stirred by the film, from an artistic perspective and regardless of other considerations, it is a rich piece of cinema that meets all the criteria of great artistic works, which can be recommended whether the viewers are interested in humanitarian issues or simply a fan of Indian cinema."