Where do we go now? by Nadine Labaki (2011)

The movie Where do we go now? is a film directed by Nadine Labaki which explores the rising sectarian tensions of a remote Lebanese village as the civil war erupts across the country. This story follows Amal and the other village women as they do their best to keep the peace in their Christian-Muslim village despite the influence of violence and religious conflict that has begun to influence their men. In doing so, the women come up with humorous strategies such as disabling television sets, staging fake miracles, baking hashish brownies, and even hiring a group of Ukrainian dancers to pretend to be stranded in their village. Each attempt is more comedic than the last and is successful in uniting the men and easing the tensions - at least momentarily. Despite the comedic twists and turns, the film still addresses the harsh realities of the war, the violent attacks on one’s neighbor, and the loss of children, husbands, and loved ones. In one of the film’s most powerful scenes, one morning the men wake up to find that their Christian women have veiled their heads, and their Muslim women have taken on the dress of their Christian friends – some even took the switch as far as praying to Mecca and anointing their children with holy water. This was a true display of just how far the women were willing to go to maintain unity and engrain the unifying message that their village is one and that attacking one religious community may as well be the same as attacking your own. 

            The main issue present within this film is, of course, the Lebanese civil war of 1975-1990. This film did a great job at bringing to light how the sectarian strife within the country pitted many individuals against their own neighbors, even in cases where there was peace and harmony for several years prior. Although the civil war ended in 1990, religious division in Lebanon has remained a contemporary issue. Following the economic crisis, the mass protests, COVID-19 pandemic, and the failure to appoint a new president, Lebanon has been experiencing many hardships in recent years (Arnold, 2024). Additionally, tensions in the country have increased as Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people has extended into a war on Lebanon with Hezbollah (Nasheed & Cordall, 2024). In turn, there remains the fear that religious tensions between Christians, Sunnis, and Shi’ites will be reignited; however, it seems hopeful that the newer generations have outgrown these sectarian divisions and that the principles of unity present within films like Where do we go now? will continue to be more important than ever (Hormigo, 2024). 

            Sectarian strife is not an issue unique to Lebanon alone, religious conflicts can be seen across the Middle East but also across the globe. While America has yet to see a civil war motivated by religious divide, there has been an outcry against the rise in Christian nationalism in recent years. As our country does not have a national religion and follows the separation of church and state, the American society has grown increasingly concerned for the conservative, right-leaning rhetoric which has influenced our governments and state’s policies. This opposition is not only from liberal Christian communities, but also from our country’s non-Christian population who do not share those same religious beliefs as Christian nationals. In turn, this can cause divisions among Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, and other religious minorities as the fear of any one religion gaining too much political power grows within American society; therefore, we may not experience sectarian conflicts similar to the Lebanese civil war, but our country nonetheless has conflicting ideas surrounding the role of religion in politics and it is in this way that religious division can manifest. 

            The message of Where do we go now? is ultimately one of peace and unity in a Lebanese society that is fighting to overcome religious differences. A mix of humor, sorrow, and inspiration, the film makes for an enjoyable watch that immerses the viewer in the story of these village women and their love for their community. Most importantly, the film’s enduring message of transcending religious divisions and the power of unity will remain a timeless one that is applicable to any country or society. 

References:

Arnold, M. (2024). Lebanon’s ‘October Revolution’in the Shadow of Sectarianism. THE ARAB 

SPRING, 285.

Hormigo, M. F. (2024, October 17). Sectarianism in the shadow of israel’s war on Lebanon. New 

Lines Magazine. https://newlinesmag.com/spotlight/sectarianism-in-the-shadow-of-israels-war-on-lebanon/

Nashed, M., & Cordall, S. (2024, October 19). How Israel is trying to generate civil strife in 

Lebanon. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/10/19/how-israel-is-trying-to-generate-civil-strife-in-lebanon