West Beirut
(West Beyrouth)
by Ziad Doueiri
Lebanon
Script: Ziad Doueiri
Cinematographer: R. Jacques Gale
Editing: D. Marcombe
Sound: Nicolas Cantin, Thierry Sabatier
Art Director: Hamzé Nasrallah
Music: Stewart Copeland
Cast: Rami Doueiri, Mohamad Chamas, Rola Al Amin, Carmen Lebbos, J. Bou Nassar, Liliane Nemry, Leila Karam, Hassan Farhat, M. Mabsout, Fadi Abou Khalil
Production: 3B Productions
Distribution:
Tadrart Films
10 Passage des Taillandiers
75011 Paris
France
Tel: 0033 1.43.13.10.60
Fax: 0033 1.43.13.10.66
Mail: [email protected]
www.tadrart.com
Year: 1998
35 mm, Colour, 105 min,
OV Arabic with French Subtitles
François Chalais Award - Directors' Fortnight - Cannes Film Festival 1998
13 April 1974 in Beirut is the very day when Lebanese civil war starts. Passengers of a Palestinian bus are slaughtered by the militia under the eyes of Tarek and Omar, two adolescents living in the western area of the capital inhabited by Muslims. They try to ignore the tragedy they witness and decide to fully enjoy their youth by carrying on having good time. They hang around at random in the streets, making friends with neighbours, shopkeepers and the militia, accompanied by their Christian friend May, a young girl from their area who does not leave them insensitive. They also film all that they see and turn the battle field into a kind a playground.
Mostly autobiographical, this film tells young Lebanese director Ziad Doueri’s mischievousness. This chronicle about a youth stolen by the madness of men is a sincere and genuine debut film using humour for a deep reflection on the Lebanese conflict and its roots.
