Where Do We Go Now?

Interviewed in Vogue magazine, director and star Nadine Labaki said:

"In 2008 , after 20 years of peace, war broke out again," she said. "Within hours there were men running around outside with masks and guns. Luckily, the conflict only lasted a few weeks, but it made me realise how fragile peace is and how anything is a good excuse to reignite. I felt so frustrated about it all, then I found out I was pregnant. I started thinking: 'What would I do to stop my son from picking up a gun? How would I distract him?' If this makes my son think twice about using a weapon, I know I have achieved something."

http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/the-culture-edit/2012/06/nadine-labaki-interview---where-do-we-go-now

You can also watch a 30-minute interview with Nadine Labaki on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsKEDWQ3PiU

The film is the third highest grossing box-office ever in Lebanon – after Titanic and Avatar! For other titbits of trivia about this film – including some insights into Middle Eastern censorship – see IMDB here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1772424/trivia

Audience feedback was 81%. Comments:

A
A	Utterly absorbing
A	Captivating story, well told – amusing and tragic at the same time. Thought provoking.
A	Vibrant and humane. Well acted.
A	Brilliant film, I enjoyed every minute.
A	The world in village life.
A	Very well put together film.
A
A	Interesting to see how the solution caused another problem – we are still divided in death.
A	Extremely poetic beginning – interesting perspective. Loved the use of the poetic form throughout. Wonderful atmosphere conjured: tender, funny, sad and harsh.
B	Clever film, humour and tragedy skilfully mixed.
B	If only the solution was so easy! Fascinating.
B
B	KEPT ME ENTHRALLED.
B	Good to break down barriers. I wonder if it does.
B	A microcosm of the world's problems. If it only was as simply worked out!!! But no!!! Not so simple at the end.
B	These violent headstrong men! Women have a lot to put up with!
B
B	Thought provoking. Found the combination of humour and tragedy difficult.
B	Good film to display the stupidity of war – men killing each other while the women are just burying their husband – son – brother. Hooray for brave women.
B	A new and novel way of resolving conflict If we could just do it
B	A very good film, lots of humour, a good story.
C	A good story if only it could come true!
C	Slowish but interesting and showed the power of women.
C	Loved the ingenuity of the women – amid the chaos they had logic. Nice little film.
C	ENJOYED IT MORE THAN I EXPECTED TO. JUST A RATHER STRANGE MIX OF MUSICAL WHIMSY AND HUMOUR AND PRETTY SERIOUS STUFF!!
C	A bit slow in parts but good story.
C	A novel idea but not sure it worked.
C
C	Too serious a subject for such a light-hearted treatment, but women could solve religious bigotry with practicality and humour
C	Found it difficult to cope with the transitions between tragedy and farce – which spoiled it for me. Nice music.

Online stuff:
Rotten Tomatoes 72% audience rating:
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/where_do_we_go_now/

IMDB 7.5 out of 10:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1772424/

Mark Kermode  in The Observer “this bittersweet celebration of motherhood deftly blends wry satire with broad comedy while never losing sight of the tragedy of its subject matter”
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/jun/24/where-do-we-go-now-labaki-review

Interview with director/star Nadine Labaki in Vogue Magazine
http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/the-culture-edit/2012/06/nadine-labaki-interview---where-do-we-go-now

Also a 30-minute interview with her on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsKEDWQ3PiU

IMDB trivia:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1772424/trivia