In most cases, the cause for
communal flair is invariably a flimsy reason. However, it takes a giant effort
to douse the fire of hatred. Well, it is not that impossible to build a society
on communal harmony, except that someone has to do some hard work and someone
will have to ‘pay’. The Lebanese film Where
do we go now tries to deal with such a sensitive theme.
Director: Nadine Labaki
Film Clip
As expected, in any situation of
communal disharmony, women are the ones who have to bear the brunt. And as the
director rightly assesses, it is the women who unfortunately have to make great
efforts to make reason work rather than emotion. In this film, their giant
effort, of course, pays in the end.
The story is about a village in Lebanon
where Muslims and Christians have for years lived in harmony. However, the good
times as they say are not to last forever. Skirmishes on communal lines give
rise to violence and death, resulting in women losing their husbands and sons.
While the women reason out that it is only by communal harmony that they can
survive, the men are as unreasonable and blind as ever, being consumed by their
ego.
It takes some bold, risky and, of
course, creative efforts on the part of these tired women to bring about some
sense and peace in the village. The film indeed is a brilliant portrayal of a
society that thrives on ego clashes and religious fanaticism. The film lays
threadbare the character of a society that cares less about human lives and
more about religious bigotry.
- Melwyn Pinto SJ
