Caramel (2008)

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

Nadine Labaki's debut features has a lot of the trappings of a typical rom-com but it eschews the stereotypical neat ending of the genre to become something more. Featuring a cast of non-actors (led by Labaki who takes on a leading role) the movie revolves around a group of women working in a beauty parlour in the Christian district of Beirut. Each woman has a problem with their love life and the other women in their circle help them along. Beautiful actors, great music and warm tones make this movie great to watch.

The Lebanese move Sukkar banat is shown in the U.S. with the title Caramel. It was co-written and directed by Nadine Labaki, who also stars in the movie.The film is set in and around a beautician's salon. (The title is derived from the fact that warm caramel is used as a beauty product in Lebanon.) The women who work in the shop, their clients, and their friends and relatives make up the cast. The plot revolves around their interactions and their romantic attachments.The women are likable, attractive, and are supportive of each other. None of them has a stable, loving relationship. For example, one woman is at the beck-and-call of a married man. This disrupts the operation of the salon, and is clearly (to everyone but the woman herself) a dead-end street. Lebanon is a county that is roughly half Muslim and half Christian. The nation has certainly had its share of sectarian strife. However, this movie doesn't address any of the political problems of Lebanon. It's a movie about relationships, not politics. The women in the film respect the beliefs of their co-workers, which lowers tensions for them and for us as viewers. We saw this film on DVD, and it worked on the small screen. It's not a "must-see," but it's certainly worth finding and viewing.

from the trailer you'll know you'r in for a treat, hell from the title itself, it's titled caramel and it's the most delicious piece of Arabic caramel iv'e ever tasted, it's so unique compared to the main stream Arabic productions in the way it deals with women feelings and issues especially the socially forbidden ones, like relationships with a married man, relationship outside of marriage, lesbianism, these and other important women issues tackled with grace, respect and understanding. also the way Nadine converts a subject from total sadness and depression and finds the bright side or the silver lining, she's also honest in picturing the Lebanese society which is globally known as free but she's showing us the other side of the coin, the anger, the religion, the constrictions on old single women among other things, after all it's another place full of humans so it'll never be perfect but even though she's in love with her work, family, friends and she finally gets the good guy. what i also admire is the sense of humor some of the characters have and the music is superb and the color gives such a warm fuzzy feeling. perfect picture from a woman to all women

I watched this film for one reason = it gives the viewer a look at life in Beirut. The story is innocent it is about a woman who owns a beauty shop Si Belle and the 3 other women who work in the shop.It has humor and also details various problems they are having in their lives... a non virgin getting married...a older one who wants to be an actress. And the main character who is having an affair with a married policeman.It is not exceptionally good or bad...however the crazy old lady got on your nerves after awhile.Watch it for the reason I did only.