Search Film, Company, People...

CAFE BEIRUT

Romance - Development 2019

Danny, an unemployed Jewish graduate must learn Arabic in six months if he is to finally secure his independence. His teacher -Iraqi asylum seeker Mr Hassan - conducts his lessons at the Café Beirut, where attractive Lebanese student Amina works part-time. Danny and Amina are drawn to each other.

- Year of production
- 2019
- Genres
- Romance, Comedy
- Countries
- UNITED KINGDOM
- Languages
- ENGLISH
- Budget
- 1 - 3 M$
- Duration
- 110 mn
- Writer(s)
- Jon RIPPIER
- Producer(s)
- Mark FORSTATER (irregular features ltd)
- Synopsis
- Danny Cohen is an unemployed 25 year-old from a liberal Jewish family in North London. Frustrated by a lack of motivation and his parents’ low expectations, he struggles to find meaningful work until he receives a job offer as a concierge to a wealthy Arab Sheikh. The catch is that to secure it he must learn conversational Arabic in six months. His parents are dubious about this decision and, in view of Danny still living at home, threaten to kick him out if he fails to secure the job.
  Danny finds a charismatic teacher, Mr Hassan, a cash-strapped Iraqi ex-communist, and they have lessons in a Lebanese café on the Edgware Road. They argue over politics, women, money and more but there is a clear bond which develops over time. Danny must also earn the respect, and counter the mistrust of, the café regulars, which often provides a tense background atmosphere.
  
  When he starts his lessons, Danny falls for Amina, a beautiful Lebanese Muslim waitress. Amina is a strong, independent-minded LSE student who challenges his preconceptions. This relationship tests the liberalism of Danny’s parents whilst Amina’s unpredictable nature adds to his frustrations. Amina’s mother is highly protective and, while in Beirut, gets friends living in London to spy on her daughter.
  Danny also has anxiety, which Mr Hassan fails to understand as well as other “first world” problems. As for Mr Hassan, old demons haunt him from his time in prison in Iraq. A former cartoonist, he fled with his family in the 1990s and now struggles to make ends meet. This leads to him being constantly harangued by his wife. When Mr Hassan is kicked out of his flat by his landlord, Danny, via his charismatic uncle Saul, comes to his aid. Mr Hassan, in turn, redoubles his efforts to help his pupil.
  Danny finishes the film by speaking Arabic to the Sheikh in front of all the café goers and securing the job. He manages to persuade Amina to have a few drinks to celebrate his success. But, when they return to her flat, her mother turns up, having flown over from Lebanon. She screams at Danny to leave Amina alone. Danny’s parents then encourage him to reach out again and the film ends with the Cohens inviting Amina and her mother for lunch as they finally decide to support the relationship.
  It is a film about coming of age, language, cultural understanding and an unlikely friendship. It has a similar tone to the French hit Intouchables.
- Beginning of shooting
- Oct 07, 2019
- End of shooting
- Nov 15, 2019