(2007). I enjoyed this film so much. At the risk of pigeonholing, it's a women's film - in the sense that it is about women, though not exclusively for them. Set in Beirut, it follows the daily lives of five women, four of whom work in a beauty salon, and one (older) who does sewing and repair next door and looks after her elderly relative (who has dementia). There are men in their lives, about whom they worry too much - one is having an affair with a married man, one is about to be married, one has been dumped in favour of a younger model, one is being courted by an older gentleman. The fifth prefers other women. What I loved about it is that, in contrast to the Hollywood equivalent, the film doesn't patronise them, make fools of them or romanticise them. True, they are mostly beautiful, but they also feel like real people, trying to live in a way that they want, in a culture which treats men more leniently. It's sweet, funny, romantic and touching. A tip for my female audience - if there's a bloke in your life, show him this film. If he doesn't like it, have second thoughts about him.
Caramel
7/10
