In the Shadow of Beirut
The Sabra and Shatila quarters are part of the Lebanese capital Beirut, which was rocked by a violent explosion in 2020, plunging Lebanon into the worst economic crisis in its history. In the poor districts, once provisionally built for Palestinian refugees, the residents live at a subsistence level without papers, without civil rights, without prospects. The documentary weaves the stories of the three families Kujeyje, Daher, Abeed and that of the young father Aboodi Ziani into a searing portrait of life in a city on the brink. The filmmakers accompanied their protagonists over a four-year period between 2018 and 2022 and show how the poorest of the poor firsthand felt the consequences of the gigantic port explosion, Lebanon's historic economic crisis, the corona pandemic and the ever-growing refugee quota. But unmistakable qualities like resilience and hope allow them to survive.
REVIEWS
“The Oscar nominated film captures a harrowing portrait of misery, perseverance, and somehow hope.”
“…an important and compelling documentary that not only highlights the hardship the four families face, but also shows the light and hope that can be found, even through the uncertainty of what to do next” —Docs Ireland
Credits
Director(s):
Garry Keane, Stephen Gerard KellyProducer(s):
Alison ToomeyWriter(s):
Garry Keane, Stephen Gerard KellyCast:
Abeed Family, Kujeyje Family, Daher Family, Aboodi ZiyaniEditor(s):
Zeina Aboul-Hosn, Iseult Howlett
