Caramel [DVD] (2007)

Caramel is a beautifully made film that is so much better than the good film that I was expecting to watch – a film that I was sorry had to end. The DVD of the film together with over an hour of extra features is excellent.The actors perform superbly, although from what Nadine Labaki says in “A Conversation With Nadine Labaki” it would seem that not all are experienced actors – though this is hard to believe given the performances that everyone gives.The film is good on so many levels. As well as the acting, the directing from Nadine Labaki is just so clever and faultless that together with great music from Khaled Mouzanar (which won a Best Music award at the Cannes Film Festival), and sumptuous cinematography Caramel is a film that could be watched many times giving a little more on each viewing.The extra features on the DVD are very informative and entertaining in themselves: “A Conversation With Nadine Labaki” (35 minutes); “A Conversation With Khaled Mouzanar” (12 minutes); “Behind The Scenes” (12 minutes); “At The Fistivals” (4 minutes); “Trailer” (1 minute).The two “Conversations With” features if watched after the main film give an insight into some of the characters and the music within the film, potentially making further viewings of Caramel yet more rewarding still.Caramel has won and been nominated for numerous awards and having watched it, it is easy to see why.If you are thinking of buying this DVD I would urge you to do so – for me this is a most rewarding film.

Dazzlingly-subtle exploration of female sexuality or, rather, the importance of sex and the erotic in women’s lives in forming their own sense of themselves. Only sexual jealousy and cattiness spoil the strong sense of female camaraderie here.Although the women shown appear free and independent, their fears and anxieties eventually become all-too-obvious as many of them find it very hard to escape the bad social and sexist habits of the past. Here is a very family-oriented culture but, within that, there is the fierce capacity to stifle individuality before it can come into its own.The performances are natural and unforced and there is also no getting away from the fact that director/star Nadine LABAKI is as beautiful to look at as she is very much a talent to watch. To have achieved so much in a first feature is rare indeed.

Caramel is a charming, if slight story of a group of women centred around a boutique in the Lebanon.Not being Lebanese or knowing much about the country I was hoping for an insight but didn't really get one. That said it was a refreshing change to get a human tale from a country that so often features on the news for all the wrong reasons.Some of the characters are well realised and, with the help of a good musical score, the film delivers well in many of its scenes. Unfortunately what happens in the film seems very little and even by the end I was waiting for it to begin in earnest.

Wonderful stories of several interlaced characters in downtown Beirut. A rare gem of film that focusses more on the plot rather than the best sound effects or costume or scene.Great for any Beirut lover, or any female just moving through life.

Not the usual war / terrorism Lebanon set film, but a look at the lives of a group of women in a Beirut beauty salon. As director and lead Nadine Labaki writes at the end, this is 'to my Lebanon' not the one usually portrayed as a perpetual war zone. Funny and moving.

This is really heart warming beautiful film about love and self discovery.Well worth a watch and one I will probably watch again when I feel like a feel good movie.

Great fun ! It is Lebanonese flim.... This flim is very much between French and Arabs but very modern... Trying to break taboo...

Beautiful film about Lebanese society told through the lives of women working in a salon. Felt very real and genuine.