shadowlord-69107 Prior to seeing this film, I was honestly not familiar with the particular challenges occurring in Lebanon. While this movie attempts to present both sides of the conflicts, it is not intended as a documentary and I am left with a sense that I am still unaware of the cultural, religious, and political strife's encroaching on this region. Nonetheless, the overarching themes of intolerance, entitlement, bigotry and xenophobia seem all too familiar to my US-centric perspective. Not fully understanding the nuances of the polarized factions in this particular drama actually makes it easier to identify the human elements that drive conflicts around the world. You can replace "Lebanese Christian vs. refugee" with "Israeli vs Palestinian," "native Zimbabwe workers vs. white farm owners," "Indonesian residents vs. affluent Chinese immigrants," or even simply "Republicans vs. Democrats" and still tell the same exact story. While the details behind the conflicts can be dramatically different, the human emotions and drives that escalate responses and shut down communication and understanding seem universal. This film is definitely worth a look, but save it for a time when you're prepared for an introspective look at world events and the human conditions that instigate them.

cmreichling Brilliant script, visual story-telling, and cast. Adel Karam, Kamel el Basha and Rita Hayek, among others, give outstanding performances. From his debut with West Beirut, Doueiri has proven a great cinema maker. Lila ça dit was another marvelous work. I only lament that his films are so few and far between, no doubt due to funding challenges.

jdesando "I wish Ariel Sharon wiped you all out" Tony (Adel Karam)Tony, a Lebanese Christian, shouts this insult at Yassar, a Palestinian refugee, that, together with the epithets Yassar had called to him, prompts a court proceeding in diverse Beirut, creating a national interest and hatred that would foment.The half million Palestinians in Beirut and the multiple sects of Christians are not going to be appeased by any court decision that doesn't support their cause. Consequently writer/director Ziad Doueiri and writer Joelle Touma, both responsible for the stunning The Attack (2012), craft a heavily figurative and entertaining courtroom drama that clearly and forcefully lays out the history and contemporary contempt of Lebanese and Palestinians. The proceedings also emphasize the humanity that underlies the conflict.The two principals are very different men: Tony is a garage mechanic and owner, a hothead with a big chip on his shoulder about Palestinian incursions (no mention here about the currently millions of Syrian refugees); Yassar is an engineer, seemingly even tempered, who heads a team of workers charged with fixing buildings that need to be up to code.Both men have reasons to hate each other in circumstances that require a careful treatment by the justices. With the two men, there is no nuance or subtlety. With the court, empathy and rationality are required. Throughout, the filmmakers allow us to enjoy the legal jousting while gaining sympathy for both sides of the ethnic animus.The dynamic Insult deserved every bit of its Oscar nomination for best foreign language film. While some might complain the treatment is simplistic and Tony too headstrong, it's still powerful cinematic drama and respectful of the differences that make wars."Insults are the arguments employed by those who are in the wrong." Jean-Jacques Rousseau

mohamedmassoud-71470 THE INSULT- 90% I was quite annoyed as i wanted to be the first Lebanese filmmaker to have an Oscar nomination but this movie is very well deserved for its nomination. The story and the way it was structured was absolutely perfect. The main two actors were very impressive which balanced other weaker actors. The cinematography is basic but effective. Adel Karam is quite the actor. The conflict in the story is very intriguing and Raw. I am so glad that a Lebanese movie was finally showcased in the world and I only dream of more to come. The history of Lebanon is so diverse and emotional that I am surprised that there aren't at least 40 movies related to all the conflicts lebanon had to withstand. The character development was shown in simple glimpses of certain situations. I was also happy that the director Ziad was not biased towards a certain character but was enriching and compassionate with both of them. The message in this movie is what was so astounding: "Despite out experience, ego, and pride, we are all in this together." A must see. Story wise and execution: 35/35 Acting: 21.6/25 Camera Work: 16.8/20 Sound: 16.1/20