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Bookmark this pageCivilised People (1999)
Director: Randa Chahal Sabbag
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
Scenes from Lebanon's civil war, sometime around the declaration of its 576th ceasefire. It's a patchwork piece, emphasising the random and rampaging madness of the fragmented remnants of Beirut civil society, suggestive of greater horrors (a housekeeper holds several children blindly hostage in his cellar in an act of stubborn and senseless vengefulness). Finally, it's because the film never really penetrates the cracked surface of these lives, though it has its share of colourful grotesqueries, a little like Kusturica, but lighter. The Lebanese censor objected to inflammatory language against Christ, the Virgin Mary, Islam and foreigners, and cut some 47 minutes. This is the original version.Author: NB
Cast & crew
Director: Randa Chahal Sabbag
Producer: Daniel Toscan du Plantier, Frédéric Sichler
Cast: Jalial Baccar, Tamin Chahal, Myrna Maakaron, Carmen Lebbos, Sotigui Kouyate, Renée Dick, Bruno Todeschini, Hassan Farhat full cast
Genre(s): War
Duration: 97 mins
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