A Civilized People

The story

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.

Cast & crew

Jalila Baccar

Jalila BaccarViviane

Tamim Chahal

Tamim ChahalSamir

Myrna Maakaron

Myrna MaakaronSouad

Carmen LebbosNajat

Sotigui KouyatéOusmane

Renée Dick

Renée DickThérèse

Bruno TodeschiniAntoine

Paul Mattar

Paul MattarThe Mad Man

Hassan Mrad

Hassan MradMarwan