Arzé

A powerful Lebanese tragicomedy about motherhood and perseverance. This feature film debut tells the story of Arzé, a single mother who lives in Beirut with her agoraphobic older sister Layla and teenage son Kinan. To support her family, Arzé bakes delicious cakes that Kinan delivers on foot. In a desperate attempt to improve their lives, Arzé steals her sister's beloved bracelet to make a down payment on a scooter so Kinan can make deliveries more efficiently.

When the scooter is stolen, Arzé and Kinan embark on an adventurous quest through the turbulent yet vibrant, multi-ethnic Beirut, navigating the city’s complex sectarian divides and uncovering family secrets along the way. The film is a tribute to Lebanon and to mothers who go to extremes to give their children a better life. Abou Abboud won the Best Actress Award at the 10th Asian World Film Festival last year. The film highlights themes of family ties, cultural identity and the struggle to survive in difficult circumstances, and does so with a mix of humor and emotional depth.