A Frown Gone Mad

“Who wants the allure must endure,” says Bouba, the sharp-tongued owner of a Beirut beauty salon where cosmetic dreams come true. Set within her clinic, this bold and original film introduces a steady stream of clients, young and old, who recline on a plastic-covered table and place their faces in Bouba’s expert – if perhaps not medically certified – hands. Shot entirely in tight, unflinching close-up, the film captures every injection, every facial transformation, as clients chat casually about love, war, and daily life. With a perceptive and nonjudgmental eye, director Omar Mismar celebrates both human vulnerability and vanity, and above all, Bouba, the film’s fierce, funny, and commanding epicentre.

Limited seats are available for patrons requiring access for wheelchairs, low vision and hearing loop. Please contact our ticketing team directly on 1300 733 733 or tickets@sff.org.au to complete your booking.