Costa Brava, Lebanon

A lovely and slow-moving story of a family where the parents have decided to isolate themselvea from the destructive outside world only to have it literally dumped at their doorstep. The stark contrast between the family's little paradise and the garbage dump reqlky brings home the realisation of what humans are doing to the nature that we love. The new reality forces the family members, especially the parents, to reconsider some life choices. Also a growing up story of the two daughters and their changing relationship with the parents. The past of the mother and father and what caused them to leave Beirut is slowly revealed. Also small hints of magical realism. The entire movie takes places around the house but does not feel boring or claustrophobic.

Costa Brava, Lebanon focuses on Walid, his wife Souraya, and their two daughters Tala 17 and Rim 9 as they live their lives in a rural, self-sustaining existence away from the chaos and filth of Beirut. All seems to be going well until a landfill is constructed right next to their property, sometimes even spilling over into it. All four of the main characters are unique and provide something of interest to the story. All of the performances are very solid. Their world is void of social media, television and the main leisure/pleasure is a very nice sized swimming pool. For me the best part was just observing the family members interact with one another to provide some touching moments throughout. The landfill highlights what I suspect was an existing friction between Walid and Sourayan, he wanting to dig in his heels in spite of the landfill and she desiring her life back in Beirut, filled with music, friends, activity. Things come to a head and some hard decisions have been made. I grew attached to all of the characters and as such found the ending a bit lacking something for me. Nevertheless, Costa Brava, Lebanon has a warm heart and one that I enjoyed spending time with.

This is a cautionary tale about how the environment can possible cause the dissolution of a young family. This is a sensitive story megged by a promising director, Mounia Aki.

You feel for the family who only wants to live a better, more peaceful life with fresh air and a lot of greenery. But this wasn't to be.

The lead actors (Salah Bakri and Nadine Labaki) dish out commendable performances. You relate with their anxiety, disappointment and frustration as they try to fight for their right to live where they are. The daughters played by young Nadia Charbel and Seana Restom display a mature understanding of their respective roles. It's delightful watching them play their part with sensitivity.

This film also tackles burning social issues: pollution and effective waste management. The message is clear: if even the mountains aren't safe from landfills, then mayhaps, we're doomed.

Everyone have his own life,feelings,nostalgia Even if we are family And our life have moments Love, Anger, laugh, Grief and we have to live all this And don't take a life seriously

I love this movie.

This is a low budget Lebanese film that deals mainly with the corruption in that country. Money allows one to do pretty much anything, and regulatory oversight by the government is non-existent since they pretty much are the drivers of institutional corruption. The story is wafer thin and has little substance to it. The family is dysfunctional and the theme itself would be of little interest outside of Lebanon. The acting is mechanical but to be fair, they really did not appear to have a proper script from which to work. The pace of the movie is slow and since there is little in the way of a story and a script, it is an absolute chore to watch. I managed only thirty minutes!