In Libya, as elsewhere in the Middle East, the Muslim month of Ramadan, which began on June 28th, is a time for frothy imported television dramas served up as a nightly digestive for iftar, the breaking of the fast. But this year a locally produced series tackling the prickly question of who did what before, during and after the country's revolution of 2011 is prompting more debate-and controversy-than the usual Turkish-made romances. The makers of "Dragunov", named after a Soviet-made sniper rifle, believe that their 15-part drama could act as a balm for Libya's soul as it struggles with the dark legacies of Muammar Qaddafi's rule and the subsequent bitter divisions that still threaten to tear the country apart. The familiar plot of star-crossed lovers is given a Libyan setting. Muna, whose father died in one of Qaddafi's most notorious prisons for dissidents, loves Omar, the wealthy son of a general who is staunchly loyal to the old regime. Their story arcs through dictatorship, revolution and the crazy aftermath, painting an unflinching portrait of post-Qaddafi Libya, warts and all.
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