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padding:0pt 0pt 1.0pt 0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal style='border:none;padding:0pt'><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-style:italic'>Playing at Kendall
Square Cinema on February 8<sup>th</sup>; please circulate to friends in other <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> cities. More
below on missing this year’s Oscars. Best, L.<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><br>
US trailer: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpnC8cUIij0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpnC8cUIij0</a><br>
Long trailer: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdVShbXTSIA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdVShbXTSIA</a>
<br>
<br>
*RELEASE SCHEDULE<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>(subject to change)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><a href="http://www.newamericanvision.com/Caramel.html">http://www.newamericanvision.com/Caramel.html</a><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>February 1<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:State w:st="on"><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>New York</span></font></st1:State><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> (Upper West
Side) [<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Lincoln</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Plaza</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>]<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:State w:st="on"><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>New York</span></font></st1:State><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> (<st1:place
w:st="on">SoHo</st1:place>) [The Angelika]<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Los Angeles</span></font></st1:City><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> (<st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Santa Monica</st1:place></st1:City>) [The
Landmark]<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Los Angeles</span></font></st1:City><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> (<st1:place
w:st="on">West Hollywood</st1:place>) [Sunset 5]<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Los Angeles</span></font></st1:City><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> (<st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Irvine</st1:place></st1:City>) [Westpark 8]<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Los Angeles</span></font></st1:City><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> (Encino) [<st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Town</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
5]<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Los Angeles</span></font></st1:City><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> (<st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pasadena</st1:place></st1:City>) [Playhouse 7]<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Chicago</span></font></st1:place></st1:City><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> [The
Century Centre]<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Philadelphia</span></font></st1:place></st1:City><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> [The Ritz]<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>San Francisco</span></font></st1:place></st1:City><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> [The
Embarcadero]<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red;font-weight:bold'>February 8<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Atlanta</span></font></st1:City><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> [The <st1:place
w:st="on">Tara</st1:place>]<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Baltimore [The Charles]<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><b><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red;font-weight:bold'>Boston</span></font></b></st1:City><b><font
size=2 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:red;font-weight:bold'> [The <st1:place w:st="on">Kendall</st1:place>]<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Dallas</span></font></st1:City></st1:place><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> [The
Magnolia]<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Denver</span></font></st1:place></st1:City><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> [The Chez
Artist]<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Detroit</span></font></st1:place></st1:City><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> [The Maple
Art]<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Seattle [TBD]<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>February 15<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Austin</span></font></st1:City></st1:place><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> [The Arbor]<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Portland</span></font></st1:City><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> [<st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Fox</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Tower</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>]<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>TBD<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Washington</span></font></st1:City><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>, <st1:State
w:st="on">DC</st1:State></span></font></st1:place><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Running Time: 1 hour 36 minutes<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;
padding:0pt 0pt 1.0pt 0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal style='border:none;padding:0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Rated PG for thematic elements
involving sexuality, language and some smoking<br>
<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Dear Friends and Colleagues:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>We would like to tell you about CARAMEL, a new
award-winning Lebanese film that will open in select cities next month.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>This film is special for many reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:18.0pt'><font size=2 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>First, it is critically acclaimed.
A hit at the Cannes Film Festival this past year, CARAMEL went on to win the
Audience Award at The San Sebastian Film Festival. And it is <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Lebanon</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s
Official Submission to the Best Foreign Language Film Category of the 80th
Annual Academy Awards next month.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:18.0pt'><font size=2 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Second, CARAMEL is an Arab film
that is not only directed by a woman, it also features an all-women cast. This
is, in and of itself, an exceptional achievement.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:18.0pt'><font size=2 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Third, it is utterly charming.
CARAMEL centers around five women whose lives intersect in a beauty salon, a
colorful and sensual microcosm of <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Beirut</st1:place></st1:City>.
The salon is a place where several generations come into contact, talk and
confide in each other. Between haircuts and sugar waxing with caramel, they
engage in intimate and liberated conversations that reveal their joys and fears
surrounding men, sex and motherhood.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:18.0pt'><font size=2 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Lastly, and perhaps most
importantly, it marks one of the widest <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> theatrical releases of a film
from an Arab nation in recent years. Supporting this film sends a message to
the film industry that there is a viable market for films from this part of the
world. It also affords those outside the Arab-American community an
opportunity to gain a wider perspective on a region of the world that most know
far too little about. Films like CARAMEL remind us that our similarities
oftentimes vastly outweigh our differences.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>We urge you to help us spread the word by sending the URL
link for this page to the members of your organization, and your friends and
neighbors. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>For additional information, please visit: <a
href="http://www.caramelmovie.com/" title="http://www.caramelmovie.com/">http://www.caramelmovie.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>If you have any questions, please contact us at: <a
href="mailto:caramel@newamericanvision.com"
title="mailto:caramel@newamericanvision.com">caramel@newamericanvision.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Thank you<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;
padding:0pt 0pt 1.0pt 0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal style='border:none;padding:0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><a href="http://www.associatedpress.com" target="_blank"><font
color=black><span style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'><img border=0
width=108 height=20 id="_x0000_i1039" src="cid:image001.gif@01C85D14.6B6DB4A0"></span></font></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>Oscars 2008 : Bittersweet 'Caramel' failed
to make the first cut <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>January 21, 2008 <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Zeina Karam - From a country more known for violent politics,
a taboo-breaking movie about a group of ordinary women meeting at a <st1:City
w:st="on">Beirut</st1:City> beauty salon may change how people view war-torn <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Lebanon</st1:country-region></st1:place>.
"Caramel," directed by Nadine Labaki, digs into the lives of five women,
of different religious backgrounds, as they struggle to deal with heartbreak, sexuality
and aging between haircuts, facials and intimate conversations at the salon.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The bittersweet story was one of 63 entries seeking a best-foreign-film
nomination at this year's Oscars but failed to make the first cut last week, when
a short-list of nine was announced. The list will be whittled down to the five
finalists Tuesday.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Still in the running Monday was <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Quebec</st1:place></st1:State>'s Denys Arcand and his "Age of
Darkness" ("L'Age des tenebres"), the final instalment in his
trilogy that began with "The Decline of the American Empire" in 1986.
"Barbarian Invasions," the second film in the trilogy, won the best-foreign-film
Oscar in 2004.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>"Caramel" or "Sukkar Banat" in Arabic, refers
to a waxing method used by women in the <st1:place w:st="on">Middle East</st1:place>
to remove undesired body hair with a mixture of water, sugar and lemon juice
brought to the boil and then left to cool. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The movie, Labaki said in a recent television interview, is
fast changing Western stereotypes about <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Lebanon</st1:place></st1:country-region> - away from the bombings
and carnage that have deeply marked the traditionally liberal country with a
unique mix of Christian and Muslim.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>"They like <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Lebanon</st1:place></st1:country-region> through this film. They are
seeing an image they don't know existed," she said. "I don't deny we
are a country that has had many wars, but we are also other things. We are very
colourful and warm as people and we love life."<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>In the movie, Labaki also plays the role of Layal, a
Christian beautician involved with a married man who promises to leave his wife
for her but never does. Layal eventually finds herself face to face with the
wife - having to wax her legs at the salon.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Another character, Nisrine, a Muslim, is about to get
married but is petrified her husband will leave her when he finds out she is
not a virgin. She opts to have her hymen repaired surgically. When her fiancee
phones her while she's at the clinic, she tells her friends, much to their
amusement and that of the audience: "Tell him I went to the seamstress."<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Another salon employee, Rima, is tormented by her attraction
for women and falls desperately in love with a client who comes in regularly to
the salon get her hair done.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>"This movie is a result of questions I was asking
myself about who we are as Lebanese women. We are lost between East and West
and haven't found ourselves yet," Labaki told <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Lebanon</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s Future TV. On the surface,
open and modern, Lebanese women still suffer from the restraints and self-denying
conservatism present in all Arab societies.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The 33-year-old actor and screenwriter, already well-known
for directing video clips for top Arab pop music stars, has travelled
constantly since "Caramel" debuted in early 2007. An assistant said
Labaki was not available for an interview.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>"Caramel" has been sold in more than 40 countries.
It opened the Paris Cinema Film Festival and won three prizes at the San
Sebastian International Film Festival in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Spain</st1:place></st1:country-region>. It ran for the Camera d'Or
during the 2007 Cannes Film Festival and has won various Middle Eastern awards.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Caroline Labaki, Nadine's sister who worked on the film's
costume design, said the movie is a resounding success, regardless of whether
it made the cut at the Oscars. "This movie laid open issues, without
preaching or claiming to offer solutions. It merely put them up for debate and
made people reflect on them," she said.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Giselle Awad, who plays the role of an eccentric salon
client who refuses to accept she is growing old, said the movie was candid
without being insolent.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>"It's very personal. It tells the stories of ordinary
people, stories shared by women all over the world," she said. "That's
what made it a success." <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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