Caramel

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Caramel

PG

Released Feb 1, 2008

1h 36m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

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81 Reviews

81%

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10,000+ Ratings

A beauty salon in Beirut is a safe haven for five women in this Lebanese romantic comedy. Shop owner Layale (Nadine Labaki) consults her employees about a problematic affair, stylist Rima (Joanna Markouzel) does not know how to handle her attraction to a female client, and seamstress Rose abandons her own ambitions to care for her family. With the support of their friends in their familiar salon, the women search for the answers to questions of life, love and happiness.

Critics Consensus

Caramel is both an astute cultural study, and a charming comedic drama from a talented newcomer.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Caramel is sweet, but it's never sickly, and it never shies away from how these women have to work round what society has planned for them.

Aug 23, 2018

Full Review

David Stratton

The Australian

It's one of the best films about women you're likely to see this year.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 26, 2008

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Philippa Hawker

The Age (Australia)

Labaki, who co-wrote the film and also stars, maintains a knowing comic tone throughout.

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 19, 2008

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Diana Tuova

Spotlight on Film

An outstanding directional debut of Nadine Labaki.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 9, 2024

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Marya E. Gates

Cool People Have Feelings, Too. (Substack)

A buoyant film filled with complex relationships and stirring performances. A tribute to the every day life of those who live and work and love in the city of Beirut.

Feb 13, 2024

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

As long as Labaki resists Hollywood tropes and continues to tell stories about her Beirut, she’ll be a director to watch.

Rated: A

Sep 21, 2022

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Audience Member

It is one of the most valuable movies that how middle eastern women live and have a life. it must watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/06/25

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Audience Member

A few funny moments and some nice cultural portraits of Beirut. Otherwise the highlights included someone getting a leg wax, a man having a tasche trim and a woman getting a haircut. Sorry for the spoilers.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

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dustin d

Caramel feels more aimed at a female audience than a general one as it focuses on the struggles of five different women, each at a different stage in her life. It is more about women's struggles than universal ones, though that is not a criticism, as there is room for movies like this. I only mention this as I recognize I might not have been in the target audience. In Caramel, Nadine Labaki proves the range of her talents as she directs with a keen eye for composition and plays a somewhat naive character who I imagine is not much like the actress/director. The movie unfolds slowly and we gradually get to know the characters and understand their motives, their interweaving relationships, coming to feel empathy for each of them.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

5/27/2019 Nadine Labaki's ode to contemporary women in Lebanon is both triumphant yet bittersweet. The beauty salon where our female protagonists spend most of their days served as the focal venue of each of their life struggles.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

nefasto r

After watching the marvelous "Capernaum" I wanted to know more about directress / actress Nadine Labaki so here I am, "Caramel" is a completely different film but just as charming. It's a cultural study submerged in lovable characters, touches of drama and comedy and some incontestable beauty. Women that are not afraid to be women, to reach their empowerment. Lovely.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Excellent film! It shows that some problems are simply universal. The women in this film could be in one of many countries dealing with the same issues & trying to find solutions. Nadine Labaki did a brilliant job of showing the normal & mundane in Lebanon, which to most of us is a war torn country. I count this among my favorite films of all time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

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Nadine Labaki

Director

Nadine Labaki

Layale

Yasmine Al Massri

Nisrine

Joanna Markouzel

Rima

Gisele Aouad

Jamale

Adel Karam

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Synopsis

A beauty salon in Beirut is a safe haven for five women in this Lebanese romantic comedy. Shop owner Layale (Nadine Labaki) consults her employees about a problematic affair, stylist Rima (Joanna Markouzel) does not know how to handle her attraction to a female client, and seamstress Rose abandons her own ambitions to care for her family. With the support of their friends in their familiar salon, the women search for the answers to questions of life, love and happiness.

Director: Nadine Labaki
Distributor: Roadside Attractions
Production Co: Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication, Cinéfondation, Arte France Cinema, Les Films de Beyrouth, Ministère des Affaires étrangères et du Développement International, Fonds Sud Cinéma, Roissy Films, Sunnyland, Bac Films, Les Films des Tournelles, Ministère Libanais de la Culture, Centre National de la Cinematographie
Rating: PG (Sexuality|Language|Some Smoking|Thematic Elements)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Arabic
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 1, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.1M
Runtime: 1h 36m