Following the lives of five Lebanese women, Caramel is a deliciously indulgent account of forbidden love, repressed sexuality, and binding traditions. Beautiful Layal struggles with her growing fixation for a married man, Rima slips into a silent affair with one of the salons customers, aspiring actress Jamal refuses to let nature take its course and grow old, bride to be Nisrine is afraid her fiancée will discover he is not her first lover, while across the street old Rose encounters true love for the very first time. As their lives spiral out of control these women from different generations find comfort in one another as they share their experiences. With a surprisingly hilarious dialogue and some unforgettable characters, Caramel is an uncommon find showcasing an exotic insight into the ordinary lives of those dealing with universal issues against a backdrop of war ravaged Beirut.
Worthy of every praise it has received, La Vie En Rose beautifully captures the remarkable life of Edith Piaf from the slums of Paris to the limelight of New York. Homeless at a young age, adopted by prostitutes and forced to sing for her supper, Edith Piaf was headed for a life of destitute before being spotted by a nightclub impresario. In the scant 47 years she lived Edith accomplished what many could only dream off. With her captivating vocals and passionate romances she soared to dizzying heights, carving her name into history one note at a time. However, fame has a price and Piaf pays for it with her life, becoming a morphine addict before wasting away until her untimely death. La Vie En Rose is a sterling example of cinematography at its best and a ground breaking production for the international film scene.
Its 1984 – who is being watched? The Lives Of Others is the anticipated debut of writer-directer Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck. This political thriller and human drama depicts the rise of the former East German government under a ruthless system of surveillance and control. Hoping to boost his career, party loyalist Captain Gerd Wiesler takes on the task of collecting evidence against one of the countries top playwrights, Georg Dreyman and his girlfriend, celebrated actress Christa-Maria Sieland. However, Wiesler doesn’t anticipate how challenging it is to submerge oneself completely into the lives of others and in under-the-table politics. Soon the captain finds himself swimming in an existence of love, literature, free speech and thinking, his conscience making him aware of the meagreness of his own existence. This new way of life is difficult to resist, especially since the system does not allow it. What began as a job ends in a dangerous game where someone is bound to get hurt.
What if there is half-way point between heaven and earth, a limbo where guides greet the newly dead? What happens After Life? At a half way station the newly deceased have three days to sift through their memories to find that one defining moment that encapsulates their entire lives. There is plenty of help in the form of guides as it must be a wise choice for that one memory will be recreated on film and relived for the rest of eternity. After Life is a remarkable story showing that sometimes the most simple of acts, whether it be a first kiss or last cigarette, is more meaningful and profound than a thousand memories put together, and that human nature is more complex than meets the eye. KoreEda’s presents a thought provoking and emotionally moving masterpiece which transcends all cultural barriers with its humorous and passionate script.
