A group of Lebanese women try to ease religious tensions between Christians and Muslims in their village.
Using the womens’ various attempts to distract their menfolk from potential religious conflict as a focus, Labaki (who produces, directs, writes and stars) sustains this balance of tone with a lightness of touch that recalls classic Hollywood, tackling serious drama head-on while never afraid to crack a joke.
A likeable comedy with heart and brains.
Balancing sectarian tragedy and earthy humour is never easy, and Labaki crams in too many stereotypes.
It's easy to see why Nadine Labaki's cheery Lebanese collective bagged the audience award at last year's Toronto film festival. It's machine-tooled to raise smiles, swell hearts, and tickle tear ducts, yet it does so with sufficient cross-cultural cred you don't feel too yanked.
Spirited, upbeat and seasoned with musical sequences, Where Do We Go Now? has an abundance of charm.
Announced as "A long tale of women dressed in black", Nadine Labaki's drama is more whimsical and enjoyable than that suggests.
Veering between comedy, tragedy and even a musical, this is a film that’s in search of an identity, while the solutions it offers to stemming bloodshed are just plain silly.
Baffling nonsense but beautiful and profound.
This bittersweet celebration of motherhood deftly blends wry satire with broad comedy while never losing sight of the tragedy of its subject matter.
Alas, while it has certainly been custom-designed to provide plenty of undemanding smiles in an exotic locale, its naïve message and whimsical blend of styles grate rather than elate.
Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow from Friday June 29, 2012, until Thursday July 5, 2012. More info: http://www.glasgowfilm.org/theatre/
Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee from Friday June 29, 2012, until Thursday July 5, 2012. More info: www.dca.org.uk
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