Tag Archives: Nadine Labaki

Nadine Labaki’s Where Do We Go Now Shortlisted for Original Song & Score Oscars

Where Do We Go Now - Nadine Labaki new movie - poster w halla2 lawein - et mainteant on va ou

Who knew that more than a year after its release Nadine Labaki’s Where Do We Go Now, which lately garnered Paulo Coelho’s love, would be in the running for an Oscar?

While going through recent articles regarding the upcoming movie award seasons, I stumbled on two press releases published by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for the shortlists of original song & original score, which are quite extensive. However, keep in mind that they have been narrowed down from a much wider selection.

The original song list can be accessed here. The original score list can be accessed here.

As you can see, Hashishet Albe has been shortlisted for best song and Khaled Mouzanar’s musical work has been shortlisted for best score. I don’t think they stand a chance at a nomination, especially not when you have people like Adele and Hans Zimmer in the running. But it’s still interesting to see that the great musical work done on the movie hasn’t been lost.

It’s slightly ironic that the movie is doing better at the Oscars with its music than with its film aspect. Where Do We Go Now failed to be shortlisted for best foreign movie last year.

This is hashishet albe:

Paulo Coelho Loves Nadine Labaki’s Where Do We Go Now

I’m not sure if I like the king of cliche making his love for Nadine Labaki’s hit movie, Where Do We Go Now, known but Paulo Coelho took it to twitter just now to let everyone know that he is a fan of Nadine Labaki’s 2011 movie which was a resounding success among audiences, even non-Lebanese ones, – less so among critics.

Coelho even liked the soundtrack, which isn’t hard to imagine as the music is definitely well done.

Paulo Coelho + Where Do We Go Now + Nadine Labaki

Ironically, the situation that sparked Where Do We Go Now happened way too many times in 2012. Hopefully Nadine Labaki won’t bother writing another movie where she invites Lebanese people from different religions (and more generally political) factions to love each other. The now-cliche aspect of Where Do We Go Now notwithstanding, I’m glad for the praise the movie just got even if it doesn’t mean much. I guess this is the first time someone as known as Coelho makes his liking for Lebanese cinema known.

Hopefully some good Lebanese movies see the light of day this year. You can buy Where Do We Go Now on DVD and Blu-Ray if you want to watch it.

Where Do We Go Now is Banned in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia may not have cinemas but it allows some DVDs to be sold in its shops. Where Do We Go Now won’t be one of those DVDs because the Saudi government has deemed the movie offensive and unsuitable for a Home Video release. Therefore, the movie was banned entirely.

In retrospect, this is very much expected. A movie whose ultimate message is about religious tolerance will be allowed in Saudi Arabia how?

In simple terms, Saudi Arabia is here and the concept of religious tolerance has escaped them so much that it’s flown all the way to Pluto and settled there.

The way I see it, in this day and age, banning any movie, book or TV show is irrelevant. The only entity that will get hurt here is some wallets.

There’s simply  a little bay for pirates where everything can be found. If Nadine Labaki’s aim is to deliver a message first and foremost instead of filling up her treasury, I’m sure she wouldn’t mind audiences in Saudi Arabia making a slight detour to that bay.

Or the Saudis, whose government still allows them to come over to Lebanon for the summer, can purchase the super-overpriced DVD here. You know they can afford it.

Where Do We Go Now (W Halla2 La Wein) Released on DVD & Blu-Ray

For those searching for torrents or a way to download Where Do We Go Now, you might want to stop searching and go buy the DVD for the movie, which will be released today.

Check out my review of the movie here.

Johnnie Walker’s Keep Walking Project – Get Involved, Lebanon!

Soon after its ad featuring Nadine Labaki as the main face of the Keep Walking Lebanon campaign, Johnnie Walker has now launched a full fledged campaign called “The Keep Walking Campaign,” which is excellently explained by Nadine Labaki in the following video:

As you can see, there are three projects which you can support. Regardless of your preference, each of these projects is aiming to improve a part of our life in Lebanon which needs support. On the tourism side, I had blogged previously about how tourists need to see a side of Lebanon that goes beyond Beirut. On the business side, companies such as Seeqnce are helping startups get a foothold in the markets they are trying to get into and on the environmental aspect, Greenpeace Lebanon has recently launched a mission to increase awareness for our waters.

So as you can see, the three main projects supported by the Keep Walking project are all an essential part to improving Lebanon as a society: gain awareness for our nature, protect our nature and help our youth market themselves.

The project has five stages. The participants will be rewarded at the end of every stage with the top walkers earning a brand new 16GB iPad 2 and the two runners-up will receiving a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label. I know some of you are vying for the runner up slot now. Voting will end on March 3rd, with the results being announced a few days later.

As Nadine said, you can support your favorite project by “walking the steps” for them. The more steps you walk, the higher the chance it gets to be selected as the winner. The steps include sharing videos, talking about the project, supporting it, etc… You can download the project’s iPhone app here or the Facebook app here.

Nadine Labaki asked a very poignant question in her movie. Where do we go now? Well, this is the direction you should take. Help Lebanon one step at a time. It’s not even that difficult. All it takes is the clicks of a few buttons.