Costa Brava, Lebanon

| 2021

Directed by: Mounia Akl

Main Plot

Costa Brava, Lebanon follows the story of a family that has chosen to escape the chaos and pollution of urban life by moving to a self-sustained home in the Lebanese mountains. Their idyllic existence is disrupted when a garbage dump is established nearby, threatening their peaceful lifestyle and forcing them to confront the realities of environmental degradation and societal neglect. As the family grapples with the impact of this new development, tensions rise, revealing underlying conflicts and differing perspectives on how to respond to the encroaching threat. The film explores themes of resilience, the struggle for a better life, and the complexities of living in a country facing both environmental and political challenges. Through their journey, the family must navigate their ideals and the harsh truths of their surroundings, ultimately reflecting on the meaning of home and the fight for a sustainable future.

Characters

  • Nadine Labaki plays Soraya, a mother striving to protect her family's secluded, eco-friendly lifestyle amidst external threats and internal tensions.
  • Saleh Bakri plays Walid, a father who moves his family to the mountains to escape Beirut's pollution, but faces new challenges when a landfill is built nearby.
  • Yumna Marwan plays Tala, a member of a family seeking peace in the mountains, whose life is disrupted by external environmental and political threats.

Ending Explained

In Costa Brava, Lebanon, the ending encapsulates the struggle between personal desires and the harsh realities of living in a politically unstable environment. The film follows a family that has retreated to a secluded home in the mountains, seeking refuge from the chaos of urban life and the pollution of their homeland. As tensions rise, the family's idyllic isolation is shattered when a waste management facility is built nearby, symbolizing the encroachment of societal issues into their sanctuary. In the climax, the family confronts the reality of their situation, leading to a poignant decision about whether to stay and fight for their home or leave in search of a better life. The ending sees them grappling with the implications of their choices, ultimately highlighting the impossibility of escaping the broader socio-political landscape. The film closes on a note of ambiguity, suggesting that while they may seek refuge in nature, the challenges of their environment are inescapable. This resolution underscores the central theme of the narrative: the struggle for personal autonomy amidst external pressures, leaving the audience to reflect on the balance between individual desires and collective responsibilities in a fractured society.

Mounia Akl Drama Nadine Labaki Saleh Bakri Yumna Marwan