Nadine Labaki is famous for her direction of Nancy Agram’s video clips. But now, after the showing of directorial debut Caramel at the Cairo International Film Festival and with its imminent release in Egypt, Labaki s career has taken a dramatic step forward.
But it is not only Labaki who has reached stardom through the sensational success of Caramel. She has brought five other talented actors into the limelight, and the question on everybody’s lips was why? Why had Labaki, who has been so used to hobnobbing with stars such as Nancy Agram, chosen not to use professional actors in her debut feature film?
“I wanted to choose women who were closest to the characters in the film, explained Labaki, “had I chosen to use professional actors, they would have had to take time to prepare and get into the role. It seemed to me far better to choose the characters themselves. I also wanted the actresses to be from the people and close to them.
And indeed, Labaki s methodology has most definitely paid off. Gisèle Aouad, who played the character of Jamale, a divorcee with two children desperately trying to fend off the onslaught of middle age, was working in an engineering office before she clinched the role. She confessed that like her character, she regularly attended casting auditions, but gave no hint as to whether she shared Jamale’s beauty blunders.
Labaki s vision of Jamale was also greatly influenced by direct experience. “When I was working in music videos, I sometimes used to sit in on the casting auditions. I would see many hopeful auditionees like Jamale, with the same awkwardness and embarrassment.
It was not only Labaki s vision and innovation that secured the success of Caramel as an artistic venture. Labaki is in no doubt that chance played a major role in the making and casting of “Caramel including Lily, the half-crazy old sister of Rose.
“I came across Lily (Azizia Samaan) completely by chance. She was walking behind me, and immediately, when I saw her, I knew she had to play Lily. I asked her, would you like to be in a film? ‘Why not?’ She replied, Labaki explained, smiling and imitating Lily’s shrill tones, sending the press into fits of laughter. “I really think she was gift from heaven.
But not all the actors shared Lily’s blasé approach, which it must be said, matches Lily’s character perfectly. For Sihame Haddad (Rose) and Joanna Moukarzel (Reema), acting had been an unfulfilled childhood dream.
When a member of the press asked the actors how it felt when they attended Cannes, Moukarze found it difficult to articulate the experience. “How can I put it into words. You see all these people, Brad [Pitt] and Angelina [Jolie], walking down the red carpet, and then we were there. It was an amazing experience.
Labaki clearly hasn t fully grasped the tremendously warm reaction and success that greeted her film in Cannes.
I used to go there every year, begging for tickets. I always felt distressed about whether they re going to let me in these movies or not, she said. And here I was this year, walking the red carpet and have my film receiving a 15-minute standing ovation. The feeling is indescribable.
However, despite the vast and well deserved praise showered on Labaki and her colleagues for a wonderfully crafted and acted piece of cinema, it seemed that there wasn’t complete consensus on the merits of the film. One press member expressed his concern that the characters weren’t realistic, and doubted the veracity of two major taboo subjects addressed in film: hymen-reconstruction and homosexuality.
“All the characters in the film are influenced, if not based, on real people and real lives, Labaki explained, “and yes, I assure you this practice is very common.
Moukarzel continued, bravely saying, “This is a real issue in our society. Many people are put under extreme pressure to hide their sexuality, and it is ruining their lives. I hope the film gave this message a voice. I hope it would help these people be liberated from their prisons in a dignified manner.
Although there is danger that this film may come under criticism for its discussion of such a controversial subject, Labaki defended her right to discuss it. “It was treated with great sensitivity so as not to cause offense. There were no scenes of nudity, as I used the woman’s hair as a symbol. It is as much about a woman’s freedom to be who she wants to be. And this doesn’t have to be related to lesbianism per se.
Breaking out of the monotony of a tight-knit and narrow-minded community is probably the central theme of “Caramel. But for the tragic character Rose, the chance is lost. The actress who played her, however, realized her dream after many years raising a family. And it was Sihame Haddad (Rose) who played her role with the utmost maturity and delicacy, for whom the loudest applause was reserved.
