Although beautifully directed, it is definitely George Khabbaz's movie. Anyone who's seen any of his previous work will be able to identify his trademark. Quirky relatable characters stuck in a ridiculous plot. Every character in the village fits a different Lebanese stereotype.
Seeing that type of character portrayal was kind of magical in its own way (as a Lebanese). Khabbaz's characters just brought out the extreme of every character trope without making it feel like their presence was forced down our throats (which is the case with most Lebanese movies and T.V. shows). One of the most enjoyable aspects of this movie is learning about the characters, and understanding how flawed they really are.
At the time of its release, Ghadi really did feel like an exceptional movie. It stood out because Lebanese cinema has reached a point where the only acclaimed movies being released were oriented around events related to the civil war. Ghadi reminded us that we are still capable of enjoying a sappy movie.
My only complaint is that the movie became over-invested with Leba's struggle to keep Ghadi's story going. Which frustrated me. That's the reason for the 7 star rating.
All in all, this movie hits you straight in the heart. If you're interested in Lebanon, Ghadi is a great chance for you to experience a truly comical aspect of village life in Lebanon.
