Caramel

Layal works in a beauty salon in Beirut along with two other women. Each one has a problem: Layal loves Rabih, but Rabih is married… Nisrine is Muslim and, no longer a virgin, faces complications with her impending marriage… Rima is tormented by her attraction to women. And the regulars who come in are no less complicated– Jamale is refusing to grow old and Rose has sacrificed her life to take care of her elderly sister. These women meet regularly in the salon, where they are able to let down their guards and share the intimate details of their lives. The topics of men, sex, and motherhood dominate the liberal conversation as beauty happens and caramel– the sugar and lemon mixture used for waxing– is applied. In the salon, each feel safe and they are never judged, a rare event in their world. A commentary on religion, politics, and daily life in Lebanon, CARAMEL delivers a colorful portrayal of contemporary life in Beirut. -CCP