Heaven Without People

Review by: Grace Landsberg

The short
Lebanese family drama movie about a crisis during Easter lunch (غداء العيد‎ Ghada El Eid).

The long
A large family gathering for Easter lunch revives old tensions and creates new ones as younger and older generations clash with each other through loud conversations across the table. The movie brings up relevant political and social topics and different viewpoints across age groups. The movie is fast-paced and authentic, filmed in the filmmaker’s home in the mountains near Beirut with nonprofessional actors.

To watch or not to watch?
Whether or not you are learning Arabic, “Heaven Without People” is an enjoyable, intense, drama that brings up provocative questions and a glimpse into Lebanese family life. The title also plays on the phrase in Arabic “الجنة بدون ناس ما تنداس” (al jinneh bedoun nas ma tandas) which translates roughly to mean “heaven without people is not heaven.” This phrase reflects the immense importance of social and family-centric values in the cultural fabric of MENA region.