Reel Bad Arabs is a film that somewhat indirectly brings awareness to the racism that occurs towards those in the Middle East. It is extremely degrading and graphic, something that definitely gets its point across but is hard for viewers to watch. I think that a better approach at this, which would attract a broader audience, would be to make a film that is more light-hearted yet impactful with the same message being the center of the film.
A popular movie that I thoroughly enjoyed when I saw it for the first time a few years ago and still like very much to this day is The Help. It is based on race relations during the 1960s, around the time Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, when slavery was existent. Although it is upsetting because of the segregation and discrimination themes, it is still a fantastic movie, one that I believe could be liked by all. The plot of the movie is not solely about slavery, but actually has real characters with substance who are played by well-known actors, such as Octavia Spencer, Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain, and Bryce Dallas Howard. By having an engaging story-line rather than a documentary-feel to the movie, it makes it so much better; audiences can actually appreciate the movie while learning about African American racism during the Civil Rights era.
I believe that if a movie bringing awareness to Middle Eastern racism was produced like The Help, it would have a greater impact on a broader range of viewers than Reel Bad Arabs.
