Caramel: User Reviews

The seductive pull of Caramel...
By Alex A. from Lakeview, March 20, 2008

I was mesmerized by “Caramel” when I saw it in Paris late last year. If you love Pedro Alamdovar’s work then you will love this movie, as Labaki is just as obsessed with details and crafting a story that is universal in its themes, yet allows for a tantalizing glimpse into a rich culture.

After seeing this movie one quickly understands how it became the sleeper hit of the year, garnering rave reviews on the international film circuit. Every couple of years or so a movie will emerge from an obscure place (Amelie, In the Mood for Love), that manages to take an international audience beyond subtitles and connect them to a world that is both exotic and familiar.

With this film, Labaki’s genius lies in her ability to make us relate to the “Other,” and come to the realization that despite cultural differences we all share the same joys and aches that life doles out in equal measure.

I highly recommend taking an hour of your time to be transported to another place. After all, isn’t that what great cinema is all about?