Caramel

Critics Consensus

Caramel is both an astute cultural study, and a charming comedic drama from a talented newcomer.

92%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 78

81%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 12,354

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Movie Info

A Beirut beauty salon serves as a microcosm of modern society in director Nadine Labaki's look at liberated conversation in a conflicted society. Over the course of their day it becomes readily apparent that women are truly the same everywhere, regardless of the society they live in. While single Layale struggles with her growing attraction to a married man, Muslim bride-to-be Nisrine fears that her husband will find out that she has already lost her virginity, and Rima wages a futile war against her lesbian instincts. As with many women who frequent the salon, Jamale does everything within her power to reverse the visible effects of aging. As Rose laments the fact that she has sacrificed her own happiness in order to care for her older sister, the intimate conversations shared over the course of a typical day reveal just how universal the lives, loves, and concerns of contemporary women truly are.
  • Rating:
    PG (for thematic elements involving sexuality, language and some smoking)
  • Genre:
    Comedy, Drama, Romance
  • Written By:
    Rodney Al Haddad, Jihad Hojeily, Rodney El Haddad
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Box Office:
    $1,000,000
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Roadside Attractions

Cast

Yasmine Al Masri
as Nisrine
Adel Karam
as Youssef
Gisèle Aouad
as Jamale
Dimitri Stancofski
Fadia Stella
Ismaïl Antar

News & Interviews for Caramel

Critics Consensus: Over Her Dead Body is DOA, Guess The Eye‘s & Strange Wilderness‘ Tomatometer!
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Critic Reviews for Caramel

All Critics (78) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (72) | Rotten (6)

View All Critic Reviews (78)

Audience Reviews for Caramel

  • Mar 18, 2014
    Despite the unrealistically attractive cast, perhaps excessive oestrogen and its deliberate angling to an international audience - I thoroughly enjoyed this film! Doesn't hurt that I watched it with two girlfriends in our room in a monastery in Bsharre, northern Lebanon. Nadine Labaki executes her multiple love stories with wryly humorous dialogue and surprising sensitivity and gently challenges the viewer with a light twist on familiar tropes. I sorely needed this contemporary view to break my stereotypes of Arab countries, and along the way found it an interesting critique of the lack of private spaces for young women in Lebanon. And Joanna Moukarzel has some pipes on her! Bottom line: If you want to watch a film about Lebanon that doesn't involve war, "Caramel" is a moving, laugh-out-loud funny comedy with plenty of eye candy.
    Letitia L Super Reviewer
  • Dec 06, 2009
    With a cast of strong female characters, each with their own story, this is a chick-flick of sorts.. but not over-the-top or in-your-face. Set in Beirut, <i>Caramel</i> touches on cultural and religious traditions but interests you with the predominant themes of love and friendship in its individual forms. I liked the backdrop, humour and overall found this movie quite touching.
    &#9829; Chani L Super Reviewer
  • May 03, 2009
    <a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i31.tinypic.com/1znn3nm.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a> When I got Caramel recommended I was sceptical, maybe I won't like, because it handle some issues that I was not interested in. But I am glad I watched, it was such an enjoyable movie. It was a story of five women who are all connected through life in a beauty shop.It mostly focuses on sisterhood, homosexuality, adultery, religion and love.I would recommend this movie to anyone because it was heartwarming and funny. Any woman would be able to see themselves in at least one of these women in this movie. Was worth watching.
    Daisy M Super Reviewer
  • Jan 06, 2009
    Saw this around the same time as Sex and the City and there's no comparison, except for the group of women and their trials and tribulations looking for, keeping and losing love. It's so much more subtle, beautiful, heartfelt and the Beirut setting with its intensity, culture and repression makes it all the more poignant. The one who becomes someone she's not for her man annoys me, but the old woman, lesbian and the main character are all wonderful. Sweet without being saccharine, luscious without being heavy, sensual without being dirty. Simply gorgeous.
    Sarah B Super Reviewer
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