‘A Sad And Beautiful World’ review: Lebanon’s Oscar hopeful is appealing, soulful romance

Dir: Cyril Aris. Lebanon/USA/Germany/Saudi Arabia/Qatar. 2025. 109mins

A pair are always buffeted between hope and heartbreak in A Unhappy And Lovely World, Cyril Aris’s first fiction characteristic which follows the lovers over three many years as they navigate the legacy of previous lives and a Lebanon marked by civil-war. The result’s an interesting, soulful romance with a substantial emotional tug, which now performs Pink Sea compitition following a premiere at Venice (the place it shared the Individuals’s Selection award with Vladlena Sandu’s Reminiscence) and in depth fesitival play. It has additionally been chosen as Lebanon’s official Oscar submission.

The tempo and power of the movie’s first half create an entertaining affair 

Yasmina and Nino are born inside one minute of one another on the similar Beirut hospital, a day stuffed with incident as the town is beneath assault and a rocket is being launched into house. Years later, Nino (Hasan Akil) is operating Chez Nino, an Italian restaurant with a Lebanese twist.

There’s a breezy, rom-com bounce to the early scenes as a automobile accident turns into a traditional ‘meet cute’ technique of instigating a reunion with Yasmina (Mounia Akl). Eating at his restaurant, she recognises a photograph on the wall and realises that she was as soon as his schoolmate. Flashbacks reveal the extent of that early bond and its abrupt ending. Spectacular performances from Alex Choueiry because the younger Yasmina and Mohamad Farhat because the younger Nino lay a stable basis for the attraction that can final a lifetime.

Nino is overjoyed by their reunion and Yasmina is charmed by his enthusiasm. Destiny could have introduced them again collectively however we’re made conscious that they’re very totally different individuals. Nino is a born optimist with large plans for a revamp of his restaurant. Bathed in a heat, inviting glow, his kitchen is cluttered and chaotic. Yasmina is a workaholic authorities guide who operates in an antiseptic excessive rise workplace, making necessary shows to deaf ears.

Aris and co-writer Bane Fakih always sketch out the character variations that might divide the glad couple. They’re each offered as a product of their previous lives and their household histories. Nino believes patterns of behaviour might be damaged. He needs to brush Yasmina off her toes, whereas she stays somebody firmly rooted to the bottom. Inside six months of assembly, he has proposed marriage and may envisage household life collectively. Bitter expertise has taught her that household items don’t all the time endure. Who would convey a toddler right into a world beset by battle and local weather change?

The tempo and power of the movie’s first half create an entertaining affair propelled alongside by hope and the opportunity of happiness. Charismatic performances and nice chemistry between Akl and Akil depart little doubt that Yasmina and Nino belong collectively. The lingering seems to be of affection and disarming moments of humour improve the romantic temper and supporting characters – together with Yasmina’s formidable mom Oumaya (Julia Kassar) and Nino’s temperamental chef Chafic (Tino Karam) – add to the swirl of tensions.

It appears acquainted and even typical, however then the second half brings a change of tone as chilly actuality begins to daybreak. We’ve a sharper consciousness that the couple are on the mercy of circumstances past their management. A relentless background chorus is the lifetime of Lebanon itself. Sounds of distant gunfire, pictures of barbed wire and archive footage woven by the movie converse of civil conflict and a monetary collapse that leaves a query mark over the way forward for Chez Nino. Why keep when there appears extra sense in leaving?  

Aris takes a danger is snatching away what felt like a straightforward glad ending however the reward is a richer, extra advanced central relationship. Love won’t conquer each impediment, however it’s all they’ve.