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The National
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
One Last Sin: Family, power and vengeance drive new Lebanese drama
In the basement of a luxury Beirut hotel lies a grim secret – a fully fledged syndicate holding both the city and its own members captive. At its centre is Safi, the kingpin and hotel owner, who keeps his vengeful brother Ziad locked in one of the rooms, while his daughter Karma grows increasingly rebellious under his iron grip. Upstairs, Hesham, an unassuming hotel waiter, is making a quiet play of his own in trying to ingratiate himself into the family to uncover the whereabouts of his missing sister. These threads unfold across the 45-episode series One Last Sin, now streaming on Yango Play. It is a fiery Levant drama with a strong ensemble cast, led by Syrian stars Samer Ismail and Rasha Bilal, alongside Lebanese actor and singer Remie Akl. "The story itself is different, layered and rich in meaning," Ismail, who plays Hisham, tells The National. "There are multiple plot lines that intersect in a really thrilling way. As an actor, that makes it exciting to dive into. As for the audience, it's the kind of drama that keeps you hooked, eager to see what happens next." At the centre of much of that tension is Karma, played by Akl, who teeters between loyalty and revolt. "When I read the script, I realised the story is really more deeper than just betrayal," she says. "It points to a deeper social issue on how we handle betrayal between siblings and that is something many deal with." The most complex role falls to Bilal as Ruby, Karma's childhood friend and someone who knows more about the family's secrets than she lets on. It was a difficult shoot, Bilal admits, saying it took time to navigate the character's stormy emotional terrain. Ruby often projects strength through restraint. "I had a lot of discussions with the director and screenwriter until we found a formula that allowed the character to communicate in the best possible way," she says. For Ismail, no stranger to morally ambiguous roles in shows such as Al Ameel and Kaser Adem, One Last Sin reflects an emerging trend driven by the rise of streaming platforms such as Yango Play, toward telling more multidimensional stories with the audience in mind. "I do feel it is a really interesting time," he says. "Arabic drama, whether Syrian, Lebanese or Egyptian, is richer. We now have scripts and an industry that are globally competitive, because they are original and they tell our stories." That newfound depth is reflected in the casting of Akl, best known as a spoken word artist, whose blistering social media monologues tackle urgent issues in Lebanese society. Her role in One Last Sin follows appearances in the Lebanese film Very Big Shot (2015) and the 2018 Egyptian drama Poisonous Roses. "I used to post stories on social media every day," she says. "But this felt different. I felt the role on an existential level. It felt like I was meant to take it on. The script gave the character a real sense of pride and dignity." Ismail agrees that the most memorable Arabic dramas draw their power from uncovering truth in extreme situations. While One Last Sin unfolds in the confines of a hotel basement, its ambitions are much broader. "What we are really exploring here is temptation," he says. "The struggle between good and evil comes down to how a person resists their desires and tries to preserve their integrity."
Al Bawaba
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Bawaba
Samer Ismail addresses rumors about starring in Arabic remake of "Çukur"
ALBAWABA - Samer Ismail responds to buzz about starring in an Arabic remake of hit Turkish series Çukur. This is what he disclosed in his interview with ET Bil Arabi following rumors of an Arabic adaptation of the well-liked Turkish television series "The Pit (Çukur)" and concerns over Samer Ismail's potential role in it. When ET Bil Arabi first questioned Samer about the situation, he said, "By God, there isn't... I didn't go into detail, but God willing, if there's any good news you'll hear soon, God willing, you'll be the first to know about it." In response to a question concerning his thoughts on the original series, he said, "Yes, I love it a lot." When asked if he would be thrilled to star in it if it were offered to him, he said without hesitation, "An excellent series, yes, of course." Aras Bulut İynemli Instagram profile In a family drama framework full of action, crime, and gangs, "The Pit"(Çukur) has garnered immense popularity since its debut in 2017 and a devoted following of viewers who have grown attached to its stars and their stories, which center on a dangerous neighborhood ruled by the "Koçovalı" family. Yamaç, the protagonist of the tale, falls in love with a stunning girl and makes plans to wed her. However, his mother's encouragement to return to the area after the murder of his older brother Kahraman completely upends his existence. His involvement in power conflicts and conspiracies complicates the series' conclusion for viewers, who have started calling for a sequel. The honored guest at the Abu Dhabi Book Fair is Samer Ismail. Notably, on the second day of the 34th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, Samer Ismail was honored as the guest of honor. His presence was noticeable at a symposium titled "Our History on Screen: Between Reality and Vision," which was held in the Bahr Al Thaqafah Foundation Hall. When writer and colleague Ali Al-Dokhi signed "Lover, Even If You Don't Belong" after the symposium, Samer went to the Austin Macauley Publishers booth to see the signing. Reem Milad conducted the conversation prior to the signing. In his statement during the meeting, Samer said, "I am here to support my friend and brother, writer Ali Al-Dokhi, with his new novel... and I am always an unconditional supporter." Regarding Samer, Ali stated, "Samer is a brother and someone I hold in high regard. His unwavering support for young people—particularly those whose tales resonate with him— is what sets him apart. He adored the book when he read it and gave me his full support." In keeping with his ongoing interest in fiction, it's important to note that Samer Ismail previously starred in the lead role in a movie based on His Excellency Advisor Turki Al-Sheikh's book "Cello."
