Dirty, Difficult, Dangerous
A humorous and absurd love story about an Ethiopian maid and a Syrian refugee in Beirut, who try to stick together to create a better life.
Ahmed, a Syrian refugee, and Mehdia, an Ethiopian migrant domestic worker, are living an impossible love of stolen kisses on street corners. While Mehdia tries to free herself from her employers, Ahmed struggles to survive by selling scrap metal, while affected by a mysterious disease. The two lovers may have no future, but they also have nothing to lose. One day, they seize their chance and flee Beirut, in a desperate attempt to start over elsewhere, as Ahmed’s physical condition starts to gets worse.
«Star-crossed lovers confront mounting obstacles to their happiness in Wissam Charaf’s slight but intermittently charming Dirty Difficult Dangerous.» - Screen International
Director
Wissam Charaf is a French-Lebanese director, cinematographer, and editor. In 1998, he began working for the French-German channel ARTE as a cameraman, editor, and journalist, covering major political cases. He has directed seven short films: Hizz Ya Wizz, A Hero Never Dies, An Army of Ants, After, Unforgettable Memory of a Friend, Don't Panic and If the Sun Drowned Into an Ocean of Clouds, as well as the documentary It's All in Lebanon. His first feature film, Heaven Sent, premiered in the ACID section of the Cannes Film Festival in 2016. His second feature film, Dirty Difficult Dangerous, was screened at Arab Film Days in 2023.
This film is part of
Original title حديد، نحاس، بطّاريات
Country France, Lebanon, Italy, Qatar
Year 2022
Director Wissam Charaf
Screenplay Wissam Charaf, Hala Dabaji, Mariette Désert
Cinematography Martin Rit
Producer Charlotte Vincent, Katia Khazak
Cast Clara Couturet, Ziad Jallad, Rifaat Tarabey, Darina Al Joundi
Runtime 1h 23m
Language Arabic, English
Subtitles English
Genre Drama, Romantikk
Format DCP
Age limit 12
Links IMDb
This film is in competition for the Audience Award.