CARAMEL

nadine labaki

france lebanon 2007 96 min

In Beirut, five women meet regularly in a beauty salon, a colorful and sensual microcosm of the city where several generations come into contact, talk and confide in each other. Layale loves Rabih, but Rabih is married. Nisrine is Muslim and her forthcoming marriage poses a problem: she is no longer a virgin. Rima is tormented by her attraction to women and especially to this lovely client with long hair. Jamale is refusing to grow old. Rose has sacrificed her life to take care of her elderly sister. In the salon, their intimate and liberated conversations revolve around men, sex and motherhood, between haircuts and sugar waxing with caramel.

• About the film

  Original Title سكر بنات (Sukkar Banat)

  Directed by Nadine Labaki

  Screenplay Nadine Labaki Rodney El Haddad Jihad Hojeily

  Cast Nadine Labaki Yasmine Al Masri Joanna Moukarzel Gisele Aouad Sihame Haddad Aziza Semaan Adel Karam

  Music Khaled Mouzanar

  Cinematography Yves Selmaoui

  Editing Laure Gardette

  Production Les Films des Tournelles Les Films de Beyrouth Rotana Studios

• Festivals & Awards

  Cannes Film Festival – Directors’ Fortnight
  2007 | Official Selection
  Nomination — Caméra d’Or
  Nomination — C.I.C.A.E. Award
  Nomination — SACD Prize

  Toronto International Film Festival
  2007 | Gala

  San Sebastián International Film Festival
  2007 | Perlak
  TCM Audience Award
  Youth Award
  Sebastiane Award

  Stockholm International Film Festival
  2007 | Official Selection
  FIPRESCI Prize

  Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival
  2007 | Expectations

  Oslo Films from the South Festival
  2007 | Official Selection
  Silver Mirror Award — Best Feature

  Asia Pacific Screen Awards
  2007
  Nomination — Best Feature Film
  Nomination — Achievement in Directing — Nadine Labaki
  Nomination — Best Performance by an Actress — Ensemble Cast

  Vancouver International Film Festival
  2007 | Official Selection

  BFI London Film Festival
  2007 | Official Selection

  Festival du Film de La Réunion
  2007 | Competition
  Mascarin Award — Best Film

  Paris Cinéma
  2007 | Official Selection

  Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards
  2008
  Nomination — Best Actress — Nadine Labaki
  Nomination — Breakthrough Artist — Nadine Labaki

  Tokyo International Film Festival
  2008 | Winds of Asia – Middle East

  Shanghai International Film Festival
  2008 | Out of Competition

  French Film Festival in the Czech Republic
  2008 | Panorama

  French Film Festival – Budapest
  2008 | Selected Feature Films

  Rendez-vous with French Cinema in India
  2008 | Feature Film Selection

  Hong Kong International Film Festival
  2008 | Official Selection

  New Zealand International Film Festival
  2008 | Official Selection

  Satellite Awards
  2008
  Nomination — Best Motion Picture, Foreign Language Film

  Argentinean Film Critics Association Awards
  2009
  Nomination — Best Foreign Film, Not in the Spanish Language