Born on the same day in the same Beirut hospital just a minute apart, while war raged outside, the lovers in “ A Sad and Beautiful World ” were seemingly destined to fall for each other, and the universe conspires more than once to make it so. For his evocative and wistful romance to yield its intended effect, writer-director Cyril Aris ’ biggest ask of the viewer is to surrender to the serendipitous nature of the couple’s connection — a request that is later supported with a concept that expands the film’s magical realist vein. Contrived by design, the premise eventually earns enough goodwill for one to play along.

An eternal optimist whose outlook on life emerged from the tragedy of losing his parents, Nino (Hasan Akil) adores Yasmina (Mounia Akl), a worriwart realist, prone to cons

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