Based on Georgette Heyer’s romance novel The Corinthian, the Lebanese writer-producer Marwan Najjar has scripted his new film Mishwar (Picnic), according to the daily Al Nahar.
Costarring in the film Vivian Antonios and Yorgo Chalhoub, who also stars in Najjar’s TV series Talbin Al Orb (I Ask for Your Hand).
The film follows the life of a young woman called Reem (Antonious) who runs away from her aunt’s house and disguises herself as a man to avoid having to marry her cousin, whom she doesn’t love.
As she attempts to escape, she meets Hadi (Chalhoub), a rich, young and obviously lost man who tags along, helps her solve her problems, and finds in her the excitement he misses in his life. And so the two go on this journey together until the inevitable, or perhaps predictable, happens: they fall in love.
Director Samir Habshi, whose previous film The Tornado attracted considerable attention, captures attractive visuals and keeps the film well knit together despite its rather long scenario. And while no one can deny the appealing chemistry between the two leads, their characters remain lackluster and uninspiring, maybe because of the quite unoriginal story – Albawaba.com
