Most of you missed the point and the essence of this movie. There is no story nor scenario needed in this movie. This movie wants only to send a message how the education department was stressed because of the war and tried their best to protect the education system by focusing on the children welfare and school curriculum. It's is well seen in the movie that the teachers of the education system didn't care neither about politics nor the war ( which they obviously mentioned that it's a stupid war). They only cared about the welfare of the children and the education system protection. Nadine Labaky did a great job like always.
22 Reviews
Highly enjoyable
elision1011 February 2024
I have been watching many foreign and indy movies on Kanopy, and this was a wonderful surprise. The story set against the backdrop of the events in Lebanon in 1982 felt highly realistic. I cared about the characters, especially the young lead. For those of us in the US blessed with never having experienced invasion, the backdrop of war and how it affects people's lives was a jarring reminder. It especially seems so for the middle-class Lebanese depicted here. I knew the tragedies that would soon be upon Beirut, and it was affecting. Afterwards, I looked up the history; it was extraordinarily convoluted. Perhaps it was as baffling to these Lebanese, who must have wondered what in the world was happening to their country.
A film providing a different perspective to a familiar event
donoftheshed20 April 2024
I stumbled upon this film by accident while researching a different movie I found it quite captivating as it provided a different perspective on a conflict that I was somewhat familiar with. I found the actors for the most part quite believable and in many cases, the storyline was very touching. The young stars at the centre of the story are consummate actors and I will be looking forward to seeing more of their performances, I was; however disappointed with the ending as it seemed amateurish and to be totally out of place with a very professional piece that had proceeded it. But for the disappointing end, I thurally enjoyed the film and would recommend it heartly.
A boy's commitment to love and protect.
howard.schumann22 January 2021
On June 6, 1982, exactly 38 years after D-Day, roughly 60,000 Israeli troops and more than 800 tanks, heavily supported by aircraft, attack helicopters, artillery, and missile boats invaded Southern Lebanon, a country already involved in a decades-long civil war. Israel's publicly-stated objective was to push PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) forces back 40 kilometers (25 miles) to the north and establish an expanded security zone that would put northern Israel out of range of the continuing onslaught of PLO rockets.
In his first feature film, 1982, winner of the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) award at the Toronto Film Festival, Lebanese director Oualid Mouaness looks at the Israeli-Lebanese War through the eyes of pre-adolescent children in Cedar High School, a private elementary school near Beirut. Based on his own experience as a ten-year old student on the last day of school in Lebanon in 1982, Mouaness' film explores the children's attempt to make sense of an incomprehensible situation, one that they can sense is fraught with danger for themselves and their families.
The camera, under the direction of cinematographer Brian Rigby Hubbard ("Ambition"), opens the film with shots of the beautiful and peaceful surrounding countryside but the landscape is soon punctured by the sound of telephone lines being blown up, tanks driving on the nearby streets, warships dotting the sea, and dueling fighter jets, like an out-of-sync video game, closing any space between the silences. On the last school day of the year, 11-year-old Wissam's (Mohamad Dalli) focus is not on what is going on outside the school, however, but on summoning enough courage to tell a girl in his class, Joana (Gia Madi), that he loves her.
Part of his reluctance is that his parents have told him that he should wait until he is older before expressing his love to someone. Watching Joana after final exams, however, he follows her trying to get up enough courage to tell her what he rehearses in front of the bathroom mirror "Joana, I love you. Joana, I love you." Though his best friend Majid (Ghassan Maalouf) tells him that we are not in America and this is not a movie, he insists on leaving her a note in her locker with a picture he drew of a superhero named Tigron who resembles a Japanese Super Robot from the anime television series "UFO Robot Grendizer."
As the children look out the window to find the source of the increasing noise, Mouaness juxtaposes an adult relationship that is more complex but also filled with fear and avoidance. As plans are underway for the student's graduation, Yasmine (Nadine Labaki, "Capernaum"), homeroom teacher and exam administrator, is in a relationship with fellow teacher Joseph (Rodrigue Sleiman, "Good Morning"). Straining to avoid discussing their political differences over the war in order to create a safe environment for the children, Yasmine struggles to have her students focus on their exams, telling them "it is nothing. It is far away," and that what happens outside does not concern them.
As the children wait for their parents to pick them up and the tension increases, Wissam resorts to fantasies about how the robot Tigron can save them from harm. "What's going on?" Joana asks, looking away. "I don't know," Wissam replies. While his full understanding of events taking place is spotty, he reaches out to protect Joana in a way that signals the beginning of his maturity. Making sure that she gets on the bus seated next to him, he seems to recognize perhaps for the first time that the truth of one's relationship to another human being is not only the physical attraction but the commitment to love and protect.
In this lovely film which was eight years in the making, Mouannes explores, "the idea that children have a world that's complete for them. They sort of understand what's going on in the adult world but they have peace with how complete their own world is in and of itself." He shows, in the phrase of Israeli author Aharon Applefeld ("To the Edge of Sorrow") that in "the darkest places of human behavior generosity and love can survive; that humanity and love can overcome cruelty and brutality." "I see the world," he says, "in a very positive light and try to hold the darkness." That is his gift to us in 1982.
In his first feature film, 1982, winner of the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) award at the Toronto Film Festival, Lebanese director Oualid Mouaness looks at the Israeli-Lebanese War through the eyes of pre-adolescent children in Cedar High School, a private elementary school near Beirut. Based on his own experience as a ten-year old student on the last day of school in Lebanon in 1982, Mouaness' film explores the children's attempt to make sense of an incomprehensible situation, one that they can sense is fraught with danger for themselves and their families.
The camera, under the direction of cinematographer Brian Rigby Hubbard ("Ambition"), opens the film with shots of the beautiful and peaceful surrounding countryside but the landscape is soon punctured by the sound of telephone lines being blown up, tanks driving on the nearby streets, warships dotting the sea, and dueling fighter jets, like an out-of-sync video game, closing any space between the silences. On the last school day of the year, 11-year-old Wissam's (Mohamad Dalli) focus is not on what is going on outside the school, however, but on summoning enough courage to tell a girl in his class, Joana (Gia Madi), that he loves her.
Part of his reluctance is that his parents have told him that he should wait until he is older before expressing his love to someone. Watching Joana after final exams, however, he follows her trying to get up enough courage to tell her what he rehearses in front of the bathroom mirror "Joana, I love you. Joana, I love you." Though his best friend Majid (Ghassan Maalouf) tells him that we are not in America and this is not a movie, he insists on leaving her a note in her locker with a picture he drew of a superhero named Tigron who resembles a Japanese Super Robot from the anime television series "UFO Robot Grendizer."
As the children look out the window to find the source of the increasing noise, Mouaness juxtaposes an adult relationship that is more complex but also filled with fear and avoidance. As plans are underway for the student's graduation, Yasmine (Nadine Labaki, "Capernaum"), homeroom teacher and exam administrator, is in a relationship with fellow teacher Joseph (Rodrigue Sleiman, "Good Morning"). Straining to avoid discussing their political differences over the war in order to create a safe environment for the children, Yasmine struggles to have her students focus on their exams, telling them "it is nothing. It is far away," and that what happens outside does not concern them.
As the children wait for their parents to pick them up and the tension increases, Wissam resorts to fantasies about how the robot Tigron can save them from harm. "What's going on?" Joana asks, looking away. "I don't know," Wissam replies. While his full understanding of events taking place is spotty, he reaches out to protect Joana in a way that signals the beginning of his maturity. Making sure that she gets on the bus seated next to him, he seems to recognize perhaps for the first time that the truth of one's relationship to another human being is not only the physical attraction but the commitment to love and protect.
In this lovely film which was eight years in the making, Mouannes explores, "the idea that children have a world that's complete for them. They sort of understand what's going on in the adult world but they have peace with how complete their own world is in and of itself." He shows, in the phrase of Israeli author Aharon Applefeld ("To the Edge of Sorrow") that in "the darkest places of human behavior generosity and love can survive; that humanity and love can overcome cruelty and brutality." "I see the world," he says, "in a very positive light and try to hold the darkness." That is his gift to us in 1982.
What a jewel
ad-859-10730828 August 2021
I cannot understand 6.3 rate of this movie on IMDB and poor critics reviews. Perfect rhytm. Excellent avoidance of plitisation. Astonishing kids acting. Perfect tension dramaturgy. What do you expect, dear intellectuals?
Slow-moving with poor scenario
malathamneh4 October 2020
Despite that the movie is well captured in terms of technology like cameras and equipment, and the casting staff did tremendous job, the movie all in all lacked a strong scenario and had one major event, the whole movie covers this event throughout half day. and it was very slow moving! Disappointing.
A beautiful and touching story
jasmineloriz12 October 2022
Writer and director Oualid Mouaness has truly outdone himself with the film 1982. This film manages to capture the essence of being young and in love for the first time while carrying the heavy load of being situated in the middle of war-torn times. One of the recurring symbols that represents this childhood innocence is the superhero TIGRON that Wissam is constantly sketching in his notebook. This imaginary character becomes a central part of the plot, and Wissam is able to see him interact with the world in his greatest times of need. Adding animation to this film was a bold choice, but Ouilad uses it to his advantage to exemplify the mind of a child to the audience. This film is so successful in its storytelling elements and presents these memories Ouilad had as a child in a captivating way. It's definitely a film I would recommend to anyone and personally find myself watching it again and again.
Boring after 15 min
alshamari-marwa1 December 2020
1982: The Power of Silence
spencerlevy-6265212 October 2022
Oualid Mouaness' debut film "1982" is a beautifully blended coming-of-age tale that follows the 1982 invasion of Lebanon as seen through the eyes of a schoolboy who tries relentlessly to announce his love to a classmate on the same evening that disaster strikes. Mouaness, who in addition to directing, wrote and produced this film, which is unlike any other in its ability to draw emotion and suspense with the subtlety and grace of a true auteur. With exquisite performances from Mohamad Dalli (Wissam) and Nadine Labaki (Yasmine), this script becomes a story that is as palpable as it is entertaining, consistently delivering on effective blocking and delivery that progresses the film organically. As effective as the dialogue and action are, however, I would be remiss not to mention what is possibly the film's greatest strength, its silences. Mouaness strategically injects the action with silences that elevate this film to a new level of excellence, drawing out each interaction and allowing the impact of this event to fully wash over the audience. "1982" is one of the finest contemporary examples of narrative cinema, and one that will continue to push the envelope of what it means to be a filmmaker.
The power of imagination
thaismariegarcia12 October 2022
War films have become a dime a dozen, and rarely do directors venture into the tragedy of the "collateral damages' ' of said wars. Genuine and riveting, Oualid Mouaness' directorial debut 1982 recounts the events of the Israelite invasion in South Lebanon through the perspective of children and teachers in a Lebanese school. Due to Mouaness' drawing from his own memories as a child during the war, viewers are provided with a beautifully narrative about adolescent love and the power of innocence. There were times during the film where I found myself so invested in these children's lives that I forgot there was war waging just miles from the school. Strong directing choices and simple yet stunning cinematography are what truly set the tone for the film. Choices such as lack of music for many scenes or long takes of establishing shots created a sense of realism by emulating the natural human perspective. Although war may not be a universal experience, emotions such as fear, confusion, and love are something many can sympathize with and relate to, which in turn makes this films simplicity its greatest weapon.
Disappointed
viawithav17 October 2020
Amazing simple story
azizloai2 January 2021
Boring qnd disappointed
passomagh1 January 2021
I am a fan of nadine labaki and i was so excited to see this one but its realy boringggg ,even if they wanted to give us a massage about the war time ,
But not like that, we couldnt watch no more and many of us slept during it. Very sad
A beautiful blend of different perspectives in wartime.
sgp-8919112 October 2022
The realism that is displayed in the new film "1982" was definitely a great breath of fresh air providing an interesting perspective on war. Straight from the brilliant mind of director Oualid Mouaness, he depicts the events of what could have occurred at an average Lebanese school during the invasion. The camera angles and suspenseful cinematography entices the audience's attention and brings you into the minds of people living in a war-zone. The characters are thoughtfully constructed from the 11-year-old main character who has a crush on his classmate to his conflicted and terrified teachers and staff at this grade school. The juxtaposition of storylines combines to formulate an unsettling mood, leaving you on the edge of your seat. The superbly raw emotions simply radiate from each actor and actress creating a touching sense of a loss that had yet to happen. However, you know in the very beginning how the story ends and hang off the silence in every scene foreshadowing the pain that would come to this country. As a human, you feel inspired to recognize the horrors that are happening as the result of war and disagreements on ideology. The tension of the consequences also added to the general tone of losing and gaining hope and the fear of ultimately being trapped and unprotected. Since watching this film, I have personally gained a new intriguing perspective of what life is like for people on the other side of the globe, and it makes me want to help and advocate for them; because they are also human.
I just created imdb account to rate it as awful
diabramy-1512430 January 2021
I think it is one of the worst movies for Nadine
Very slow and boring Too long , no content , it could finish in 40 minutes totally I simply do not recommend watching it Waste of time - Disappointed Starting doubting how the awards are given
Very slow and boring Too long , no content , it could finish in 40 minutes totally I simply do not recommend watching it Waste of time - Disappointed Starting doubting how the awards are given
I created an account only to rate it low
ahmedandmaryam3 January 2021
Complete disappointment
psalameh-0245318 February 2021
Where is the storyline?
I had high hopes, and the movie started well, but they failed to make sense of the storyline. and it just ended abruptly, unless I missed something.
What a waste of money, as I had to rent it on amazon Prime despite being a member. I definitely don't recommend. Nadine Labaki is a great actor and director but this movie is not worth watching.
very disappointed
charlesnoura14 December 2020
Slow and... Well nothing muh
deimosian21 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
First things, its slow. Not in a way that the movie pace is slow. But some scenes takes longer than they should. It might be the director's aim to make us savor the intensity of what was going on, but it came out to be boring.
Again with the director who probably tried to portray the atmosphere on that day, but some scneses came to be opposing to each other. Example the class scene at the end shows a messy classroom with falling chairs and tables, but we've seen before that the students exited the rooms in an orderly manner, after all it was a British school 😉
One more thing, though the movie is about love in the time of war, whether it is between two children or two teachers, but somehow the whole thing looked disattches from the main events. There was an Israeli invasion to Lebanon in the medist of a secterain war been raging for 7 years, but somehow the students and teachers looked as if they are in a school outside of mentioned world.
Again with the director who probably tried to portray the atmosphere on that day, but some scneses came to be opposing to each other. Example the class scene at the end shows a messy classroom with falling chairs and tables, but we've seen before that the students exited the rooms in an orderly manner, after all it was a British school 😉
One more thing, though the movie is about love in the time of war, whether it is between two children or two teachers, but somehow the whole thing looked disattches from the main events. There was an Israeli invasion to Lebanon in the medist of a secterain war been raging for 7 years, but somehow the students and teachers looked as if they are in a school outside of mentioned world.
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