The Middle East Institute, Singapore

& The Arts House

proudly present

CARAMEL

Director / Screenwriter: Nadine Labaki Casts: Nadine Labaki, Joanna Moukarzel, Yasmine Al Masri

The debut as both writer and director of its leading actress, Nadine Labaki, Caramel is a feisty, funny and rather rude look at a set of friends who work at a beauty parlour. These are women living under an officious regime – made obvious by a couple interviewed by police for sitting in a parked car together. More risque is a bride-to-be’s attempt to surgically restore a semblance of virginity before her wedding.

The setting of the movie is never made clear throughout the movie until Labaki’s dedication “to my Beirut” on the end credits. It brings the audience to see normal life going on in a city that has for so long had “war-torn” as practically part of its address. Caramel premiered at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival, in the Directors’ Fortnight selection and in the same year won the Abu Dhabi Black Pearl for Best Actress and Variety Middle East Filmmaker of the Year at the Middle East International Film Festival.

The screening was followed by a post-show discussion.

Registration Desk opened from 7pm onwards. Participants were reminded to arrive early for registrations in order to avoid delay of the screening