Film Review
Title: Caramel (Sukar Banat)
Release Date: 9, August 2007 (Lebanon)
Director: Nadine Labaki
Principle Cast: Nadine Labaki, Yasmine Elmasri, Joanna Moukarzel, Gisele Aouad, Adel Karam, Sihame Haddad, Aziza Semaan, Fadia Stella, Ismal Antar
Rating: PG
Film Length: 95 Minutes

5 Stars

Reviewed by Kristiana Barber (Calgary Correspondent - Canada)

I am often faced with a crossroads in life; be on time for my movie or miss the first couple minutes and wait in line to get popcorn. It is inevitable that I will always choose popcorn and very rarely do I regret that decision. However after watching Caramel I found myself in a state of regret for having missed even the first five minutes of such a charming and enjoyable film in the name of butter and salt.

Caramel is the English title given to Sukar Banat, a production that was originally released in Lebanon in August 2007 and is steadily making its way to screens across North America. The film follows the lives of five women living and working in the city of Beirut. While the basic plot may seem redundantly similar to edgy American television counterparts such as Sex And The City, Lipstick Jungle and Cashmere Mafia; Caramel manages to set itself apart by bringing a universally identifiable warmth and sincerity to the table.

The film centers on a beauty salon in the heart of Beirut called Si Belle. Like all theatrical beauty salons Si Belle is not only where women come to get their hair done, but a place where women of varying ages and social situations can build friendships and coach one another through the trials and tribulations of daily life. Layale, played by Nadine Labaki, is a young woman caught in a web of misguided affection. She is in love and having an affair with a married man. Layale works at Si Belle alongside Nisrine (Yasmine Elmasri) and Rima (Joanna Moukarzel). Nisrine is engaged to the man of her dreams, but she has much more to negotiate than finding the perfect dress and planning the perfect ceremony. Despite her family and fiancés expectations she is not a virgin and is desperately seeking a way to hide the consequences of her past on her wedding night. Meanwhile Rima finds a subtle outlet for her repressed sexual orientation by washing the hair of a beautiful female customer (Fatmeh Safa).

Layale, Nisrine and Rima are each complimented by Jamale (Gisele Aouad), a divorced mother and actress who is struggling to find her place in an industry dominated by youth and beauty. She is a regular customer of the shop and provides yet another diverse perspective to the story. The four women all face significant obstacles, but the film itself is not heavy with the weight of their problems. Instead, it manages to use sharp wit and heartfelt dialogue to give a glimpse into the importance of unconditional friendship.

Each of the principle characters is likable in a different way, however I found the most joy in Rose (Sihame Haddad) and Lili (Aziza Semaan). Rose is a tailor with a shop next door to Si Belle who has spent her life taking care of her somewhat unstable sister, Lili. In Lili the audience finds perhaps one of the most charming personalities ever brought to life in film. Though her mental state is fragile, she has moments of great clarity that showcase, albeit briefly, a deep connection with the sister who has cared for her throughout the years. This familial devotion is tested when Rose begins to fall in love with a customer and tries to find her place as more than a sister and a caregiver.

Caramel is a film with much more to offer than a group of women gossiping about work, men and sex. It is about the strength and comfort present within the bonds of true camaraderie, and the beauty found in everyday life. In a time when the Middle East is often depicted with stereotypes and confusion, Caramel presents a Beirut where ordinary people build relationships and face the universally acknowledged obstacles found in love, responsibility, truth, and freedom. It is a film that may take a bit more work than usual to find, but in the end is worth every bit of the effort.