A Civilized People
7.4
Lebanese director Randa Chahal Sabbag spins this bleak war drama about the brutal absurdity of the urban warfare of Beirut during the 1980s. Opening with the shocking image of kittens being blown apart, the film loosely follows the travails of Bernadette (Nada Ghosn), a naïve country girl sent to the city as a maid for a mansion long since abandoned by the owners. There she meets Therese (Renee Dick), a veteran house cleaner who takes her under her wing. One day, while accompanying her friend to the cemetery, she meets a rakish Arab militiaman, and the two fall in love.
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Not streaming anywhere
Not on any streaming service in United States, and not available to rent.
Your rating
Your review
Cast
14 people
Jalila Baccar
Viviane
Also in
Arab
Death Rite
Tamim Chahal
Samir
Also in
The Kite
The Infidels
Randa Chahal Sabag
Jean-Pierre Saire
Myrna Maakaron
Souad
Also in
Once Upon a Time in Beirut
The Magic Box
Frédéric Sichler
Carmen Lebbos
Najat
Known for
West Beirut
Lila Says
Daniel Toscan du Plantier
Known for
Les Miserables
Sotigui Kouyaté
Ousmane
Known for
London River
Dirty Pretty Things
Renée Dick
Thérèse
Also in
The Kite
Beirut: The Encounter
Sotigui Kouyate
Ousmane
Bruno Todeschini
Antoine
Known for
The Connection
Delicacy
Randa Chahal Sabbag Director · Ziad Rahbani Composer Ricardo Jacques Gale Cinematographer
First release September 4, 1999 · Produced in France, Lebanon · Production StudioCanal, Ciné Manufacture
Production
ARTE France Cinéma
Production
StudioCanal
Production
Ciné Manufacture
Production
France 2 Cinéma
Production
Havas Images
Production
Vega Film
Production
France · Lebanon
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Civilisées
Original language
French
Spoken on screen
French
Release dates
Italy · September 4, 1999
Theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
Canada
September 14, 1999 · Toronto International Film Festival
France
April 26, 2000
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Some details come from TheTVDB.