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Costa Brava, Lebanon (كوستا برافا لبنان)

Qumra Projects

Mounia Akl / Feature Narrative / Lebanon, France, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Qatar / 2021 / Colour
In Arabic / English subtitles
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Environmental, Social Issues, Family
Middle East Premiere
Rated: Mature subject matter. Not suitable for minors. Individuals under the age of 18 are not admitted into cinemas.


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Synopsis

In ‘Costa Brava, Lebanon’, the free-spirited Badri family escape the overwhelming pollution and social unrest of Beirut by seeking refuge in a utopic mountain home they built for themselves. Unexpectedly, an illegal garbage landfill begins construction right next door, and with it comes the very trash and corruption they were seeking to escape. As the landfill rises, so do family tensions. The Badris are left with a choice—stay off the grid or leave their idyllic home and face the reality they fled, hoping to stay true to their ideals.
Nadine Labaki, whose film ‘Capernaum’ screened at Ajyal 2018, brilliantly plays Souraya—a well-known singer and activist who toured the world with her music. Her husband, Walid (Saleh Bakri), leads the family to nature and a simpler way of life, but not without sacrifice. The family’s escapist fantasy soon begins to unravel, and the external threat to their home dredges up old internal rifts and yearnings that were merely buried by their self-imposed isolation. A confident and compelling feature debut by Mounia Akl, backed by stellar performances, the film is a thoroughly enjoyable family drama and clever political parable all in one.

About the Director

Mounia Akl is an award-winning Lebanese filmmaker. Her short film, ‘Submarine’ (2016), was in the Official Selection of the 69th Cannes Film Festival (Cinéfondation), SXSW, TIFF and Dubai Film Festival, where it won the Muhr Jury Prize. In 2017, Mounia took part in the Lebanon Factory and co-directed the short film ‘El Gran Libano’, which opened Cannes Directors’ Fortnight and screened at BFI London. ‘Costa Brava, Lebanon’ was developed during the Cannes’ Cinéfondation Residency. Mounia is currently developing new projects in both TV and film, one of which being her second feature film.

Credits

Director
Mounia Akl
Screenwriter
Mounia Akl, Clara Roquet
Producer
Myriam Sassine, Georges Schoucair
Executive Producer
Jeff Skoll, Anikah McLaren, Fouad Mikati, Candice Abela Mikati, Karam Abulhusn, Monique Dib, Lara El Khoury, Elie Tabet, Harriet Harper Jones
Co-Producer
Sophie Erbs, Sergi Moreno, Olivier Guerpillon, Ingrid Lill Høgtun, Katrin Pors, Tom Dercourt, Tono Folguera, Eva Jakobsen, Mikkel Jersin, Joakim Rang Strand
Cinematographer
Joe Saade
Editor
Carlos Marques-Marcet, Cyril Aris
Production Company
Abbout Productions
Production Designer
Thomas Bremer, Issa Kandil
Sales Company
mk2 Films
Sound
Rawad Hobeika
Mixing
Rana Eid
Production Company
Abbout Productions
Distributor
Film Clinic Indie Distribution
Cast
Nadine Labaki, Saleh Bakri, Nadia Charbel, Ceana Restom, Yumna Marwan, Liliane Chacar Khoury, François Nour