Skies of Lebanon (2020) User Reviews

"In this country,that has its own stars,never have I seen such a beautiful one."

[morrison-dylan-fan · 8/10 · 1 September 2021]

After finding Ballad of a White Cow (2020-also reviewed) to be stunning,I took a look at the line-up online line-up from the final day of the Edinburgh International Film Festival for another gem. Taken by the off-beat trailer, I decided to look up at the skies of Lebanon.

View on the film:

Making short stop-motion animation shorts before reaching for the skies, co-writer (with Yacine Badday)/ director Chloe Mazlo unveils an exquisite feature film debut, with Mazlo & cinematographer Helene Louvart opening a sparkling, almost Musical atmosphere in 1950's Lebanon, with ultra-stylised warm, glossy pastel colours beaming in graceful tracking shots around Alice (played by a delightful Alba Rohrwacher.)

Expanding on her short film roots, Mazlo weaves surrealist stop-motion animation into Alice's life, with ambitious spilt-screen shots of Alice interacting with her stop-motion animated parents (!), crayon-coloured matte paintings drawing a kooky mood to Alice's bubbly romantic life, and a stark wall which comes face to face with the horrors of civil war.

Waving farewell to Switzerland as she heads to Lebanon, the screenplay by Badday and Mazlo plays with a pitch-perfect playful tone Alice's sincere love for the country and those who welcome her into their lives with open arms, which Alice struggles to retain a grip on, as the darkness of the civil war begins to cover the skies of Lebanon.

Theatre and romance

[andrewscate · 8/10 · 13 March 2023]

The final night stars and the credits song won me! I felt the romance of the couple and the sensitive nature of the two: simple, educated, and in love with their country and landscape. The weaving of poetry, memory, animation and theatre distanced me as well as constructed me as spectator of the play. I was always reminded that I was the spectator with priviledge to a slice, like a memory through story of a life with letters and love. Also, the theatre set conatructed for me, the experience that remembering Lebanon before civil war for a couple was romantic, cheap, social and fun! The war reminded us of the meaninglessness and loss of lives, the disruption of lives chaotic and intimate. The flag figure, the 1950s-60s theatrical fashion; a female dressed like masquerade or at a costume ball open and welcoming to Alice in her as emerald cedar-coloured dress symbolic of the cedar tree "the roots" of Lebanon was playful and revealed also the issues within society:all players in the war demanding acknowledgement as Lebanese/Lebanon! Her appearance as friendly and then as pushed and manipulated symbolised without gore the hidden issues the country was facing after 1975.

Magnificently eccentric!

[StrayFeral · 10/10 · 7 February 2022]

This is the type of movies they need to make more often! And I loved it!

If you admired "Amélie" (2001), this is a much more complex story without all the computer bell and whistles of "Amélie"'s visual effects. "Skies of Lebanon" incorporates lots of visual effects of different types, excellent music and surreal vibe.

Actually it was the surrealism which really got me to see this movie, after seeing the trailer. The trailer itself gives pretty good clue what the movie is about.

One important thing to mention: I am not familiar at all with the history of Lebanon, so I will not comment on this aspect. I was watching the movie purely as a story.

In short, this is a love story set mainly in Lebanon. Unlike "Amélie", there are more things set in motion around the main characters and I absolutely loved how everything was shown. However it is a thorn love story. The characters go trough a lot. From the thrills of falling in love to the perils of marriage and parenthood.

There is a very tiny bit of glimpse of Kusturica's "Underground", speaking of the love, life and difficulties during wartime, but it is a totally different thing.

"Skies of Lebanon" is an absolute form of art and will appeal seriously to any art lover worldwide.

The calm before the storm

[martinpersson97 · 10/10 · 14 July 2023]

This very artistic, beautiful and finely put together drama is highly recommended for any lover of film, and eye opening overall for everyone I would say.

The outbreak of war, and the suspense both leading up to and following it are depicted beautifully, by this incredible director, and utilizes some great actors with promising careers.

It is so beautifully and authenticly written and depicts the sensations of dread and trying to lead om every day lives splendidly well.

The cinematography, cutting and editing is incredible, and so is the shooting and imagery - all done in very artistic and metaphorical fashion.

Very much a recommended film for film fans, as well as an important part of history that deserves to be showcased! True art.