West Beirut (1998)

WEST BEIRUT (1998)
DIRECTOR: ZIAD DOUEIRI  
FRANCE, NORWAY, LEBANON, BELGIUM 
FICTION | 106 MINUTES
ARABIC, FRENCH WITH ARABIC AND ENGLISH SUBTITLES

When civil war divides 1975 Beirut into Muslim-controlled West and Christian-controlled East, high schooler Tarek treats the conflict like an adventure, filming Super 8 movies with his friend Omar and navigating dangerous borders as a game. Amid rising family tensions, Tarek spends time with his orphaned Christian neighbour May. As the violence escalates, Tarek's innocent escapades give way to harsh reality and the tragedy of war sets in.

Alia Yunis, Programme Director, Centre for International Heritage Activities, will join us after the screening. The conversation will focus on Ziad Doueiri’s portrayal of youth during the Lebanese Civil War, and examine how the film’s visual language conveys the tension between humour and violence.