Writing
“In the Shade of Jasmine” is a cultural and artistic Ramadan program broadcast by Al Araby 2 from Damascus. It brings together a group of intellectuals and artists to discuss social and cultural issues, with a focus on the role of creativity in rebuilding cultural identity. The program hosts prominent figures and allows young people to express their aspirations.
Early 20th-century Damascus, under the shadow of the Ottoman Empire. The Al-Safi family has ruled the tobacco trade with an iron fist for generations — until a cunning outsider named Joudad arrives, driven by ambition and a personal score to settle. What begins as a commercial rivalry quickly becomes a blood feud touching power, money and revenge. A sharp, atmospheric Syrian period drama starring Maxim Khalil and Fayez Kazak, praised for its layered performances and fresh take on Damascene historical drama.