Insulte (l’)

English title: The Insult

Genre: social drama

With: Adel Karam (Toni Hanna), Kamel El Basha (Yasser Abdallah Salameh), Rita Hayek (Shirine, Toni’s wife), Christine Choueiri (Manal, Yasser’s wife), Talal Jurdi (Talal, Yasser’s boss), Camille Salameh (Wajdi Wehbe, Toni’s lawyer), Diamand Bou Abboud (Nadine, Yasser’s lawyer), Julia Kassar (Judge Colette Mansour), Rifaat Torbey (Samir Geagea), Carlos Chahine (Judge Chahine), Elie Njeim (Elie, Toni’s employee), Walid Abboud (Television Host), Georges Daoud (Georges Hanna, Toni’s father)

Director: Ziad Doueiri

Screenplay: Ziad Doueiri and Joelle Touma

Release: 2017

Studio: Ezekiel Films, Tessalit Productions, Rouge International et al.

Rating: 14A

MBiS score: 8.6/10 

 

‟No one has a monopoly on suffering.” 

 

QuickView

Story-line: in a Beirut teeming with political and religious fervour, Toni, a Christian Party supporter, is warned by Yasser, a Palestinian foreman hired by the city, that the drainpipe under his balcony is faulty. When Toni refuses to listen, Yasser asks two of his men to modify the drainpipe and, while they are installing an extension, Toni comes out and breaks it deliberately. Clearly irritated, Yasser answers with an insult. From then on, the disagreement between the two men will take on a life of its own.  

Pluses: convincing acting all around (Kamel El Basha won the Best Actor Prize in Venice for his performance but the whole cast is also deserving), economical, top-notch direction, a twisty and brutal screenplay replete with conflicted characters, virile scenes, strong tension and hard-hitting dialogues, superb cinematography and editing, very fine production values, a serviceable musical score and a powerful ending.

Minuses: although it contains vigorous and even hateful language targeting Palestinians and Lebanese alike, the film serves as an important record of the difficult relations between nations in the Middle East.

Comments: the thought-provoking and important THE INSULT shows how a minor problem can become a devastating crisis if circumstances are volatile enough. Ziad Doueiri’s uncompromising and riveting film doesn’t take sides and lets the chips fall where they may. If you are looking for a gut-wrenching, dynamic film illustrative of our difficult times, this Oscar-nominated entry (for 2018) will reward you handsomely.  

 

MBiS 

© 2025 – All rights reserved