Caramel

Western audiences are indeed fortunate to have two films releasing (if only limited) that bring a long overdue fresh perspective about life in the Middle East. The first was the Oscar nominated animated feature Persepolis and the second is a film from Beirut opening February 1st.

Caramel is a story about 5 Lebanese women who work and let loose in a neighborhood beauty salon. Layale the owner (first-time Writer/Director Nadine Labaki) is having an affair with a married man. Nisrine (Yasmin Al Masri), a Muslim is engaged to be married but worried about her fiancée finding out that she’s no longer a virgin. Rima (Joanna Moukarzel) is coming to terms with her feelings for other women, especially her attraction for a beautiful client. Jamale (Gisèle Aouad) is an actress and frequent customer, trying to fight the inevitability of getting older. Rose (Siham Haddad) is an unmarried seamstress who has devoted her life to caring for her older sister. They all use the salon as a haven where they can be women, friends and sisters. Read more