Watch Lebanese Beauty Queens

Lebanese Beauty Queens is a poignant drama presented by the Beirut-based production company, Abbout Productions. The movie is co-directed and co-written by Nadine Asmar and Ely Dagher. This Lebanese production, released in 2018, is around 1 hour and 15 minutes long. The film is set in a dystopian world where Lebanon is no longer a sovereign state. The government has collapsed, and the nation has been divided into autonomous zones controlled by rival factions. One such faction is offering a chance of redemption to the struggling Lebanese women through a beauty pageant, “Miss World of Peace and Love.” In this beauty contest, scoring the highest marks on the question-answer round instead of the conventional criteria like looks, walk, or talent will determine the winner.

The film focuses on four women who hail from different parts of the country. Through their journey, we get a glimpse of the dark realities they have to face daily. Sara (Diamand Bou Abboud) is a widow who struggles to provide for her son and her mother-in-law. Lea (María Zriek) is a Christian TV host, who is losing her credibility, and is on the verge of being fired. Rita (Rawia Elchab) is a young woman from the South, who wants to pursue her dreams, but the tight restrictions on women in her hometown make it impossible. Caroline (Pauline Wehbe) is a rebellious teenager, who lives in slums and is abused regularly by her father. She sees the beauty pageant as a chance to escape the tyranny and oppression of her father and dreams of a better life.

The script dives deep into the struggles of these women, their aspirations, and their fears. It's not only about winning the coveted crown but also about what it represents. For these women, it is a chance to take back control of their lives, to stand up against the patriarchal society that oppresses them, and also a rare opportunity to push out of their comfort zones.

One of the most interesting aspects of this film is that it highlights the intersectionality of patriarchy, class, and religion in contemporary Lebanese society. For instance, the movie shows the contrast between the luxurious hotels where the participants are lodged and the shoddy conditions in which Caroline lives. In another scene, Rita's father insists that she drop out of the competition, as he believes that a Muslim woman from South Lebanon cannot win against other women from better-educated, well-off backgrounds.

The performance of the cast is noteworthy. The women in the lead roles, especially Diamand Bou Abboud, deliver powerful performances that capture the essence of their characters seamlessly. The music, composed by Charbel Haber, builds the right atmosphere and intensifies the mood of the film.

The cinematography of the movie is another highlight. The shaky camera angles used in the scenes where the women talk about their struggles, build a feeling of intimacy between the viewer and the characters. The visuals capture the beauty of Lebanon, with its historic cityscapes, seafronts, and lush green landscapes amidst the gloomy, dystopian backgrounds that serve as a stark reminder of the ugly realities that the protagonists face.

The Lebanese Beauty Queens is not a typical beauty pageant story that glorifies the triumph of the underdog. Instead, it presents the harsh realities of a society grappling with divisions and strife. It also critically examines the notion of beauty and how its perception changes across cultural and societal settings. It delves into how women are defined by beauty standards that are as sham as they are restrictive.

In conclusion, the Lebanese Beauty Queens is a powerful and evocative movie that touches upon essential themes of women's struggles and resilience in a society that stifles their growth. It shows that even in the bleakest of situations, there is a ray of hope and that change can come from unexpected quarters. It gives a voice to the silenced, tells their stories, and brings them to the forefront of the dialogue.

Lebanese Beauty Queens is a 2017 documentary with a runtime of 54 minutes.