CARAMEL

Lebanon, 2007, 96 minutes, Colour.
Nadine Labaki, Yasmine Al Masri, Joanna Moukarzel.
Directed by Nadine Labaki.

Caramel is very much a women’s film. The director, Nadine Labaki, also appears in the central role of the beautician who is in a relationship with a married man who has promised to leave his wife, but… She works in a salon in Beirut with three other women, one an aspiring actress who probably will not make it, another is about to be married but concerned that she has had a previous relationship and her husband will find out, the third a down-to-earth organiser (whom they want to persuade to wear a dress).

While this might be familiar material enough, it is presented with a female and feminine sensibility, especially with the detail of work in the salon. The actresses are strong enough to make these characters come alive. There are a number of other women, two elderly sisters, and the wife whom the husband is not going to leave. While the underlying tone is serious, it is all presented with a light touch and some humour.

There are a couple of men in the background, especially a policemen who is attracted to the beautician.

And it is all shown in a Beirut that is peaceful and where life is ordinary – but we are aware that in these years such peace is, at best, precarious.

1.An entertaining film? The focus on women? In themselves? Relationships? The feminine perspective?

2.The Beirut settings, the salon and its exterior, streets, homes? The social life of Beirut? The fact that the war and the conflicts were not mentioned? The musical score?

3.The title, the credits and the preparation of the caramel, the sugar, the lemon, the water? The mixture? Its being used in the beauty salon for waxing?

4.The various stories in the film, the women at the beauty salon? Their individual stories? Interwoven? The two older women?

5.The life of the beauty salon, the women working there, friendships, looking after each other? The range of customers?

6.Layale, the central character, her work, going out, her meeting the married man? The affair with him? Her being stopped by the policeman, the seatbelt? The chats with the policeman, his being attracted to her? Her preparation for the weekend together? Going to the hotels, being asked for identity? Her going to the seedy hotel? All the effort she made to clean it up and prepare it? The text message that the man could not come? Her friends consoling her? Her message to the man’s wife, offering her free treatment at the salon? Her arrival, Layale’s reaction? Going to her home, seeing the preparations for the wedding anniversary? Her not wanting to see the man again?

7.Nisrine? Engaged, her fiancé, the police, not getting out of the car, Youssef and his help in getting the man released? Nisrine and her concern about her husband, going to surgery, calling herself Julie Pompidou, the surgery to make her a virgin for the marriage? Her work at the salon? The preparations for the marriage, the dress? The marriage itself, everybody present, joyful?

8.Jamale, getting her hair done, her criticisms? Her age? Actress? Her going to the audition, waiting, the other women waiting for being to be called? Her performance, her being asked to turn around, to say the lines, the director? Her being anxious? Her walking out? The tissues with the blood in the bin? Going back to the salon?

9.Rima, her work at the salon, mannish, interested in the women, the customer, the stranger, later persuading her to have her hair cut? The others persuading her to wear a dress for the wedding? Her helping them, driving them around? The end at the salon?

10.Youssef, policeman, the encounter with Layale, helping out with Nisrine? Going out with Layale, coming to the salon, his moustache being shaved off?

11.The other men, the absent married man? The fiancée? The various men in the background?

12.The tailor, her looking after her sister, her dignity in herself? Charles, the client, at the restaurant, his waiting for her? Her staying home? Lily, in the streets, collecting the garbage? Her senility, her tantrums? Rose staying to care for her? Their presence at the wedding?

13.A joyful presentation of people in Beirut? The film dedicated to the city? Perspectives of the city – without the focus on the conflict and the ravages of war?