São Paulo – Welcome to a story of love, mystery and intrigue and games of power. In the centre is the Lebanese Hayalla family. Since July 12th, when the series based on the soap opera by Janete Clair started being broadcast, the Arabs of O Astro (The Star) have become the most popular in the Globo TV 11:00 pm programme. It was the murder of the family patriarch that stopped Brazil in 1978: Who killed Salomão Hayalla? If it is up to Alcides Nogueira and Geraldo Carneiro, who are responsible for the new version of O Astro, suspense will also greatly touch spectators up to October, when the production will come to its end.
According to Mauro Alencar, author of A Hollywood Brasileira – Panorama da Telenovela no Brasil (The Brazilian Hollywood – Panorama of Soap Operas in Brazil), and also a member of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Janete Clair’s portrayal of the Lebanese, from whom the Hayalla family descends, was very faithful to the traditions and customs of the community. “Character Salomão Hayalla, the head of the clan, is described as an honest, hardworking man with a natural talent for trade,” he explained. "Interestingly, Janete Clair’s father, Salim Emmer, was also of Lebanese origin,” he added.
In the synopsis of the soap opera, disclosed by Globo TV, Salomão Hayalla is a "Lebanese immigrant who made a fortune due to his untiring work”, and is a "hard, dry, often gruff man who makes a point of preserving ethical values”. A businessman, Salomão established Hayalla Group, which includes a supermarket chain, among other businesses. In the first version of the Soap Opera, the character was played by actor Dionísio Azevedo. Now the part is played by Daniel Filho. "The Salomão played by Dionísio Azevedo was ruder, but also more kind-hearted,” said Alencar. "Daniel Filho added to the character some traits of a businessman of the 21st Century, but without losing the affective and human side of the businessman,” he explained.
The Salomão of O Astro, in fact, is the specialist’s favourite soap opera character. "I greatly appreciate the characters created by Janete Clair: determined men, fighters, family heads who built empires with their toil and sweat,” he said. "They are characters who follow the economic and social growth of Brazil.”
Apart from the patriarch, the centre of the Hayalla nucleus also includes brothers Samir (played by Marco Ricca), Youssef (José Rubens Chachá) and Amin (Tato Gabus), as well as Clô (Regina Duarte), Salomão’s wife, and Márcio (Thiago Fragoso), the businessman’s son.
Further details
Regarding the reporting of the daily life of an Arab family, according to Alencar, in the second version of the soap opera there is greater concern with details regarding customs. "The original text had as its heart the Lebanese immigrant feeling of struggle to stand out in a foreign country,” explained Alencar. "The current authors, in turn, are more concerned with portraying the customs of the Lebanese community more strongly within the Hayalla family".
The Arab climate of O Astro is further strengthened with the scenery. According to figures disclosed by the broadcaster, directors Roberto Talma and Mauro Mendonça Filho asked the soap opera producers to insert much realism, even including workshops on Lebanese culture. In the Hayalla mansion, for example, gilded details are not lacking. There are impressive shelves and red upholstery, with flower arrangements and objects that recall the traditions of the Arab nations.
That is not to mention the extra touches in the form of belly dance presentations at sumptuous gatherings that bring together the 11 pm stars of Janete Clair’s plot.
*Translated by Mark Ament
