Costa Brava, Lebanon (كوستا برافا لبنان)
Qumra Projects
/ Feature Narrative / Lebanon, France, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Qatar / 2021 / Colour
In Arabic / English subtitles
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.