Amin Dora’s comedy “Ghadi,” set in a fictional village near Batroun, received an enthusiastic response from local audiences in the wake of its theatrical release last year. The film, which tackles the daring campaign waged by a father to overcome villagers’ animosity toward his disabled son, is now seeking international recognition.
Written by Georges Khabbaz, who also plays the lead role, “Ghadi” was awarded the audience choice award at the Busan International Film Festival in South Korea earlier this month and was recently selected by the Culture Ministry as Lebanon’s official entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at next year’s Oscars.
Reviewing the film after its screening at the Busan festival earlier this month, entertainment magazine Variety described it as “a sly and absorbing comedy whose particular resonance for Arab viewers (particularly fans of the fledgling Lebanese filmmaking industry) never undercuts its essential appeal to a potentially broad array of audiences.”
“Ghadi” will be competing against 80 other entries in the foreign language category. Lebanon has entered 11 films for the Oscars since 1978, but has yet to receive a nomination.
