Civilisées

Civilisées (A Civilized People or Al Mutahaddirat) is a 1999 Lebanese dark comedy drama film written and directed by filmmaker Randa Chahal Sabag. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival on September 4, 1999 and later screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film was also screened at the Arab Film Festival in San Francisco, California.

Premise
During the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990), many well-off Lebanese families fled the country to look for their personal interests internationally, leaving their residences under the care of maids and laborers from Egypt, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. The film draws a portrait of a war-tormented Beirut neighborhood, and the love between a Muslim militia fighter and a Christian maid.

Cast

 * Jalila Baccar as Viviane
 * Tamim Chahal as Samir
 * Myrna Maakaron as Souad
 * Carmen Lebbos as Najat
 * Sotigui Kouyaté as Ousmane
 * Renée Deek as Thérèse
 * Bruno Todeschini as Antoine

Release
Due to the controversial topic of the film and its critique of the Lebanese elite, it had only one screening in Lebanon at the Beirut International Film Festival, and was also later banned by the Lebanese Film Commission. However, it received positive responses from international audiences, including at film festivals in Italy, France, and Canada.

Accolades
In 2000, the film won the Nestor Almendros Award at the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival. At the 1999 Venice Film Festival, the film won the UNESCO Award (tied with Zion, Auto-Emancipation) and was nominated for the Cinema of the Present - Lion of the Year Award.