A SAD AND BEAUTIFUL WORLD
(director/writer: Cyril Aris; screenwriter: Bane Fakih; cinematographer: Joe Saade; editors: Nat Sanders, Cyril Aris; music: Anthony Sahyoun; cast: Mounia Aki (Yasmina), Hasan Akil (Nino), Julia Kassar (Qumaya), Camille Salaman (Antoine), Tino Karam (Chafic-chef), Alex Choueiry (Young Yasmina), Mohamad Farhat (young Nino); Runtime: 110; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Jennifer Goyne Blake, Georg Neubert, Georges Schoucair, April Shih, Jasper Wiedhoff; Watermelon Pictures; 2025-Lebanon, Germany, USA, Saudi Arabia, Qatar)
“It’s a solid eye-opening narrative.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Lebanese documentary filmmaker Cyril Aris (“The President’s Visit”) ably directs his first narrative and co-writes this mashup comedy/drama/romance with Bane Fakih. It’s a romantic tale taking place in Lebanon’s war-zone. The film spans three decades in Beirut, as a romance is set against the backdrop of Lebanon’s Civil War, the failure of its economy, and the port explosion in 2020.
Childhood sweethearts born in the same Beirut hospital only a minute apart will meet in school and again as adults and will become lovers.
They meet as youngsters (Alex Choueiry & Mohamad Farhat, later as adults (Mounia Aki & Hasan Akil) when restaurant owner Nino gets momentarily blinded and crashes into an office building where the mother (Julia Kassar) of Yasmina works. Yasmina, a cynical government economic consultant, was there to take her mom to the hospital. Nino, whose parents are dead, apologizes and takes the family to his restaurant to show he’s sorry. Yasmina spots a photo of him on the restaurant wall when he was in elementary school and she was his girlfriend. This kindles the romance.
They get together and soon wish to marry, as we see them navigate their way through the war-torn city.
Aris passionately covers both their romance and the hardships of living in a worn-torn Beirut. It’s a solid eye-opening narrative.
It played at the Venice Film Festival.
REVIEWED ON 7/26/2026 GRADE: B
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