A SAD AND BEAUTIFUL WORLD BY CYRIL ARIS: A ROMANCE SHAPED BY WAR

‘A Sad and Beautiful World’ tells the story of Nino (Hassan Akil) and Yasmina (Mounia Akl), who were born on the same day amid a tragedy that shook Beirut. Over the course of three decades, their paths cross again and again, trapped in a magnetic relationship that defies time and the wounds of the past. In a country that breaks their hearts a little more each day, they must face an impossible choice: to bet on love and start a family, or to surrender to the need to survive.

This is a deeply intimate work. The first half of the film feels very luminous. Director Cyril Aris crafts a delicate narrative where every scene seems full of nostalgia. There is a charming naturalness to the relationship between Nino and Yasmina; even the most ordinary moments possess an extraordinary sensitivity. It is also a huge surprise to see Mounia Akl in front of the camera; she was already known for her work as a director, but here she delivers a deeply magnetic presence.

The narrative structure and timeline are so carefully crafted that the film flows effortlessly. And, surprisingly, it’s also very funny. That romantic comedy tone that emerges at the beginning feels natural, making the connection between the two characters feel authentic.

When the second half arrives, things change. The warmth slowly disappears, giving way to a colder and brutally realistic atmosphere. The emotional transition Cyril Aris achieves is impressive because the film never loses its identity. Visually, the film is magnificent and everything is shot with incredible sensitivity. 

Perhaps the most devastating aspect of the film is its context. Beirut is portrayed as a city marked by the omnipresence of war, where growing up means learning that nothing is guaranteed. Nino and Yasmina dream of finding an island: a place where they can love without the constant shadow of conflict, where they do not have to abandon those they love or say goodbye to their home. This island gives rise to a beautiful metaphor about the possibility of imagining the future even when the world is falling apart.

The film hits even harder when viewed against the backdrop of the region’s current political climate. It is impossible not to think of the destruction of Beirut, the forced displacement, or the cultural and human loss affecting entire generations. Here, loving is a political act, in a conflict that has recently intensified due to Israeli bombings in southern Lebanon and in parts of Beirut, particularly the southern suburbs.

‘A Sad and Beautiful World’ is a story about memory, loss, and the human capacity to keep loving despite everything. Days have passed, and it is still hard to put into words exactly how it makes me feel. The only thing I know is that in a sad and beautiful world like the one we live in, love and hope are the most valuable things.

Words by @joaquinxbc