Sukkar banat

Hazel and I enjoyed the Lebanese film Caramel, (Sukkar banat) (2007), which on the surface is just a middle Eastern version of that gay feast Steel Magnolias . Five women, all with varying problems (closet lesbianism, unhappy relationships,menopause,isolation,etc) live and work around a seventies style beauty parlor in Beruit. Yes, it does sound very like the Sally Field emotional romp doesn't it? ( we even have one key scene where one character takes her anger out on another woman in a pure example of transference- which was lifted directly from the funeral scene from Magnolias), but surprisngly Caramel does have a little more depth to it's humour than I initially expected . The film's title comes directly from the local hair removal product, which is made by mixing heated sugar,water and lemon juice, to make a sticky sweet and sour "toffee" This "caramel", is a metaphor for the women's interwoven stories which are bittersweet.

Keeping well away from the city's troubles, writer, director and star Nadine Labaki gives a glimpse of a culture which you realise with a tiny bit of shame that you know absolutely nothing about. The warmth of the piece, made me want to learn more about an area which is synonymous to the west with terror and violence, and that is the strength off the entire film, It leaves you wanting more.

Nice performances from Labaki as a young woman having an affair with a married man, and a charming turn by Adel Karam (right) as the policeman secretly in love with her.

The whole film is a sweet, middle eastern chick flick.