Leh Laa (Why Not)

Review by: Helana Reyad

The short
A woman hits 30 and is pressured into marriage, but takes her fate into her own hands on her wedding day.

The long
The lead, Aliaa, is a woman who succumbs to the pressure of her family and society and is about to marry a man of the family’s choice. Just as she is about to seal the deal, she runs out on her marriage. Facing the backlash and fall out of that decision, Aliaa decides she can longer live a life that is everyone else’s but her own. She applies for a competition where one of the stipulations is she has to leave her parent’s home and live on her own. This mini-series takes us through her journey to self-realization and independence in the face of all odds.

To watch or not to watch?
Watch! Although this is not as uncommon as people think it is, this series is the first to portray it to the masses. Such situations are reserved to members of the upper strata and the reality of its happening does not trickle down to those who make up the majority of Egyptian society. This is meant to challenge the perceptions of a girl who moves out of her parent’s house before marriage.