Film: West Beirut / Beirut Al-Charbieh (Part of Two from Lebanon) September 6, 2006

WEST BEIRUT / BEIRUT AL-CHARBIEH

Wednesday September 6th 2006, 8 15 PM

Two from Lebanon
WEST BEIRUT / BEIRUT AL-CHARBIEH
Director: Zaid Doueri Released: 1998 Runtime: 105 min.

A former assistant to Quentin Tarantino, Zaid Doueiri here creates an unforgettable and deeply moving look at growing up in the shadow of combat. Tarek and Omar are two Muslim teenagers who spend their days thinking about only two things: meeting girls and making movies. The answer to their first concern comes in the form of May, a pretty young Christian from the neighborhood; for the second, they have to figure out a way to get past the various militias and checkpoints across the city to get to the only shop that will process their Super-8 cartridges.

At first it seems like a massive game for the three teens, finding new ways and schemes that allow them to cross the city, but as the violence escalates the grim reality of what’s happening to their country becomes all too clear. Doueiri re-imagines the traditional “coming of age” story; these young people are doing all they can to simply live like typical urban teenagers, and the distance between their expectations and their realities is what gives West Beirut its tragic feeling.

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