Thu Dec 18 15:14:00 UTC 2025: Summary:

This article from The Hindu e-paper reviews “A Sad and Beautiful World,” a Lebanese film gaining popularity at the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). The film, directed by Cyril Aris, follows the romantic relationship between Nino and Yasmina from birth, showing how their lives are constantly impacted by the conflicts in their region. Despite the backdrop of violence, the film focuses on the connection between the two characters, weaving a love story punctuated by humor and resilience. The film, Lebanon’s official entry for the 98th Academy Awards, features strong performances by Hasan Akil and Mounia Akl, and explores themes of love, survival, and the weight of history through the lens of a Beirut restaurant that serves as a central character.

News Article:

Lebanese Drama “A Sad and Beautiful World” Wins Hearts at IFFK, Heads to Oscars

KERALA, India – December 18, 2025 – Cyril Aris’s debut feature, “A Sad and Beautiful World,” is captivating audiences at the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) and generating Oscar buzz as Lebanon’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film. A review published today in The Hindu highlights the film’s unique approach to a romantic drama, using the backdrop of ongoing conflict in Lebanon to frame the lives of protagonists Nino and Yasmina.

The film opens with the couple’s birth in a Beirut hospital and follows their intertwined lives as they navigate a region marred by violence. Despite the heavy subject matter, “A Sad and Beautiful World” infuses moments of humor and resilience into Nino and Yasmina’s enduring love story. The The Hindu review emphasizes the strong performances of Hasan Akil and Mounia Akl (director of the 2022 IFFK entry “Costa Brava, Lebanon”) as well as the film’s clever use of Nino’s family restaurant as a space mirroring the couple’s decades of laughter and pain. The film is praised for its ability to blend a universal love story with the specific realities of life in a conflict zone.

Read More