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It’s Beirut – the capital city of Lebanon. Surrounded by the ambience and impact of the nation’s political woes, Mira Shaib’s directorial debut Arzé invites us to the intimate life of a lower-middle-class single mom, her son, and her sister.
Arzé (Diamand Abou Abboud), who bakes delicious pies for a living, struggles to make ends meet as her 17-year-old son Kinan (Bilal Al Hamwi) drops out of school and her sister Layla’s (Betty Taoutel) longing for someone never ends. With limited means and no financial or emotional support, Arzé buys her son a used scooter to make quicker deliveries of her pies. Although least interested in his mother’s proposition, Kinan eventually obliges until the woman’s dreams come crashing down. The scooter is stolen. How will she repay the vehicle loan? Would she confess to her sister about a bracelet she mortgaged for the down payment? What does Kinan’s future look like? Will Arzé consider emigrating to Europe for a better life?
Mira Shaib’s film is a light watch. It comedically exposes the scams of everyday living – laced on a thread of religion, poverty, and yearning. A helpless Arzé, bogged down by multiple miseries, would go to any extent to retrieve the missing scooter. A good chunk of the film is a quest to find the vehicle wherein she puts up mini-acts to interact with members of different communities. A trump card she carries is a box of her pies – the taste of which nearly bursts out of the screen.
As Arzé and Kinan run from pillar to post, encountering thugs, informers, and an annoyed shopkeeper, the film slowly brings the mother-son duo to develop a better bond. It isn’t overly out there but there are revelations from the mother to which the son reciprocates with empathy. Arzé also gives us an emigration angle, exposing the ongoing tension in the region.
It isn’t a tough film to write or execute. Even the political commentary isn’t direct yet it’s there – we know what’s going on. There is an element of melodrama which, again, the film explores with maturity without drowning in a pit of tears. The last act might feel too light for the otherwise tense setup. Yet, it all feels rewarding as the film ends pleasantly. The happiness may even be momentary yet it feels good and just right.
The actors, including the bit players, are a delight. Diamand Abou Abboud gives us a vivid performance, showcasing the life of an anxious baker with panache. Bilal Al Hamwi is refreshing as her son and so is Betty Taoutel’s performative yet effective turn as his aunt.
The beauty of Arzé lies in the way it remains witty and hopeful amid adversity. It makes social commentaries without ever turning into a rant. Shaib’s film offers no permanent solutions – be it over the lack of wealth, the insufficiency of opportunities, or the lifestyle in the region. It ends nearly where it begins although with a sweet closure and a reason to smile.
Rating: ★★★ 1/2
Arzé was screened at the 2024 edition of the Tribeca Festival.
