caramel

mixed feelings about the desire to see this lebanese film
one review implying it was their answer to sex and the city
primarily because it has 4 women at the centre of the action
they all work at a hairdressing salon in downtown beirut
the centre of the story and the ladies lives it seems
for their friendship provides the support they each need
as they all struggle in one way or another with other people
mainly the men in their lives or who they want in their lives
family and religious expectations are also quite apparant
but basically it's a simple story of lives being lived
which is the kind of film i particularly like
and of which the best foreign films are all about
no over-paid, over-hyped, over-indulged actors in sight
no unlikely scenarios, cross-brand promotion, excessive costumes
no blatantly over-indulging of material and other desires
but here an opportunity to get in amongst another society
and observe that which may or may not set them apart from our own
the beautiful owner of the salon is played by nadine labaki
she is also the writer and director of this her first feature film
she is having an affair with a man she hopes will be won over
but of course he is in it for one thing only with no such intention
in the meantime the man who really loves her is on her doorstep
the local policeman who observes, pines and suffers for her love
this is one thread in the film that takes us in for its simple honesty
but then each of the other ladies has their own concerns or issues
one is about to be married and has a secret about her (lack of) virginity
a small but significant reference to the problems faced by women
caught up in a modernising society with traditional (male) values
similarly another lady is finding herself drawn to other women
possibly as a rejection of what she has seen as undesirable male behaviour
and the desire instead for a partner offering the tenderness she craves
this then coming to fruition in a totally believable way
but it's not all so serious and as dramatic as it may sound
there's some very good laugh-out-loud moments
usually at the expense of one or more of the salon's visitors
all done in good taste and with relevant empathy also on offer
particularly with an elderly neighbour providing a sewing service
it took a while for me to figure out where the title comes from
but it is in direct reference to the use of a caramel substance
mixed from water, sugar and lemon juice for hair removal
a service offered at the salon and therefore a clever title
a metaphor for what suffering women endure in the world
and also that in this case caramel is a bitter-sweet substance
seems like the perfect title for this very appealing film