For decades, according to the story of “Where Do We Go Now?,” a small, isolated Lebanese village has lived in relative peace, despite having an equal mix of Muslims and Christians. It appears that uneasy peace has been held together by the women of the village.
When culture clashes break out in Beirut, the villagers can’t help but take sides, with tensions growing between the religious factions.
So the women, along with their respective clergy, devise a plan to distract the angry men by hiring a troupe of Russian dancing girls to pretend their bus has broken down nearby, thus forcing the exotic dancers to live in the village until repairs can be made.
I know it sounds pretty silly, and even kind of offensive to some, but it’s much more about manipulation and less about sexuality.
However, when tragedy befalls one of the more beloved young men, it will take every bit of cunning and control by the strong village women to keep a lid on the smoldering situation.
It’s handled with a lot of humor and a hint of respect, but I can see how some of the more devout might take exception.
Eventually, the point is, if we can’t laugh at ourselves just a little bit, maybe we’re missing the point altogether.
See how this tiny village tries to keep that balance in “Where Do We Go Now?”