There are two wars taking place simultaneously in Danielle Arbid's small family drama "In The Battlefields." Huddled in the basement bomb shelter, impervious to the thunderous noises of the Lebanese Civil War around them, twelve year old Lina's family fights. The experience is terrifically trying for the film's appealing lead (Marianne Feghali), a lonely, discontented adolescent who turns to her aunt's maid, free-spirited Shihan (Rawia Elchab), for companionship.
Ardid's topic is certainly compelling--coming of age, difficult enough in itself, becomes more complicated amidst falling bombs in a crumbling neighborhood. Taking her audience's knowledge of Lebanon history for granted, Ardid gives no time to explaining the political climate. Instead, we are submersed in a claustrophobic family drama. It's stuff we have all seen before: a no-good father, a bitter unhappy mother, various extended family members arguing about money. Lina's relationship and eventual betrayal of her maid Sihan is the strongest part of the film. Shot continuously in close-up, young Marianne Fegahli is left the impossible task of carrying a film by the varying expressions on her brooding face.
