Nadine Labaki’s Where Do We Go Now? (2011) is a film that shows the impact of religious conflict on a small Lebanese village. The film takes place in a war-torn community divided between Christians and Muslims and portrays the cycle of violence that has dominated the region for decades. Labaki highlights a different perspective that shifts the narrative from the men who fight these battles to the women who are left behind, as they deal with the loss and trauma that comes with religious conflict. The film focuses on women as the central force in preventing conflict by showing how they break the cycle of hatred in their community.
The main issue in Where Do We Go Now? is the religious tension between the village’s Christian and Muslim men. From the beginning, Labaki frames the women as the heart of the community. She shows grieving mothers and widows who have suffered the loss of loved ones to the conflict. Rather than sitting by as their men create issues, the women take matters into their own hands. They stage distractions and obstacles to diffuse potential issues. Their methods are unconventional and funny, but their purpose is serious. They are trying to preserve peace in their village and protect their families from more loss.
The film is touching in how it shows grief and solidarity across religious boundaries. One of the most significant parts of the film is the funeral scene, where Christian and Muslim women walk together, mourning the deaths of their sons and husbands. This shared sorrow is at the heart of Labaki’s massage. The women, despite their religious differences, are united in their desire for peace. The men’s conflict is meaningless to them, what matters is the life of their children, the future of their village, and the possibility of moving beyond religious division. This theme of common humanity in the face of sectarianism is not just a reflection of the situation in the village, but a representation of Lebanon’s history. This issue is very important, especially within the context of Lebanon and the broader Arab world. Religious sectarianism has been one of the most destructive things in Middle Eastern politics. According to Haddad (2011), sectarian identities in the Arab world are not just religious but political, social, and historical constructs, often manipulated by elites to maintain power. Labaki’s film is a powerful commentary on this reality.
Where Do We Go Now? is an optimistic depiction of women’s agency in peacemaking. The women in the film are ordinary villagers who are done dealing with the cycle of loss and violence in their community. Labaki emphasizes that their ability to think outside the box, to act on their emotional intelligence, and to work together. This differs from men’s inability to control their tempers or let go of long-held grudges. In many ways, Labaki’s film resonates beyond the context of Lebanon. The role of women in peacemaking is a universal theme, and Where Do We Go Now? shows why women are often at the front of peace movements around the world. Women have shown historically that they can productively drive social change. According to research by Cockburn (2013), women’s involvement in peacebuilding efforts often leads to more sustainable and inclusive peace agreements, as they usually prioritize issues like human rights and social justice. This happens worldwide. In my experience, every humanitarian organization I have been a part of in America has been led by women. This was Nadine Labaki’s message, women have a unique ability to lead peace efforts that is often underestimated, especially within the context of the Arab world.
Works Cited
Cockburn, Cynthia. “War and Security, Women and Gender: An Overview of the Issues.” Gender and War: International and Transnational Perspectives, Palgrave Macmillan, 2013
Haddad, Fanar. Sectarianism in Iraq: Antagonistic Visions of Unity. Hurst & Co., 2011.