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Movie Info & Details
Release Year1999
Runtime1h 37m
LanguageFrench
CertificationNR
GenresDrama, Comedy
Votes3
DirectorRanda Chahal Sabbag
WritersRanda Chahal Sabbag
TypeFeature Film
Rating7.0 out of 10
Cast9 credited
Also Known AsA Civilized People
About A Civilized People
Lebanese director Randa Chahal Sabbag spins this bleak war drama about the brutal absurdity of the urban warfare of Beirut during the 1980s. Opening with the shocking image of kittens being blown apart, the film loosely follows the travails of Bernadette (Nada Ghosn), a naïve country girl sent to the city as a maid for a mansion long since abandoned by the owners. There she meets Therese (Renee Dick), a veteran house cleaner who takes her under her wing. One day, while accompanying her friend to the cemetery, she meets a rakish Arab militiaman, and the two fall in love.
Directed by Randa Chahal Sabbag, A Civilized People leans on a strong ensemble — Jalila Baccar, Tamim Chahal, Myrna Maakaron — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1999.
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