Guest
From the makers of GAZA (Sundance 2019), comes a new cinematic odyssey that penetrates deep below the surface of Beirut, a still beautiful, yet deeply troubled city on the brink of financial collapse. In Sabra, one of Beirut’s toughest urban slums, sectarianism and violence is a permanent way of life. Rabia, a 38-year-old hardworking but undocumented Lebanese mother cannot afford to admit her chronically ill daughter to hospital, leaving the life of her innocent child hanging in the balance. Father of five Ayman is preparing the way for his daughter Sanaa’s engagement to a local man as his way of protecting her in the neighbourhood as he labours to provide the most basic essentials for his family to survive. Young father Aboodi is struggling to kick his drug habit which has brought him to prison before as he battles to find a new path in life that will make him a better parent to his toddler son. In nearby Shatila, Abu Ahmad, an 8-year-old, angelic-looking but mischievous Syrian boy who fled ISIS, labours hard to feed his family while forging an unlikely friendship with a civil war veteran and fruit stall owner. In the Shadow of Beirut weaves these four compelling storylines together in a searing portrait of a people and a city struggling to survive amidst some of the most difficult living conditions imaginable. In this failing state, it is the vulnerable who suffer most. Through intimate, character driven and cinematic storytelling, the stark reality of life for the protagonists of the film is symbolic of the hundreds of thousands of others who fight for survival in the most diverse country in the Middle East, which has the highest per capita refugee numbers in the world. This is a nation suffering one of the worst global financial meltdowns on record, a country and a city that many now are trying desperately to flee. ____________________________________________ From Lebanese producer Myriam Sassine, “I was approached by a team of Irish filmmakers who had a throve of powerful footage from the neighbourhoods of Sabra and Shatila, some of the toughest parts of Beirut, and invited to become a producer on this film. I remain deeply impressed and genuinely moved by how the filmmakers approached and filmed people with both sensitivity and respect. The film captures the stark realities of poverty faced by families every day, highlighting the humanity and kindness and how people continue to live, love and hope in the face of overwhelming adversity. The filmmakers’ dedication to immersing themselves in the community is evident throughout the film, and the deep connection to the families shines through in every frame. This film is a must watch for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of the human cost of the ongoing multifaceted crisis, and a powerful window in a rarely seen world, even by Lebanese people living in Lebanon.” From Lebanese editor Zeina Aboul-Hosn, “IN THE SHADOW OF BEIRUT is truly a labour of love. In both the intimate moments cinematically captured by Stephen over 6 years as a deep level of trust grows among the people he gets to know first as friends and then like adopted family and the hard work that went into editing the material and creating the film. This is no normal documentary where people parachute into a foreign land to film subjects. It's impossible to capture the footage Stephen filmed without investing significant time and developing real friendships, particularly in this part of Beirut. Stephen takes time to get to know people first and understand who they are before ever filming. This shows in the footage. There is a fantastic, passionate and experienced team behind this project, and I, as a Lebanese woman, feel privileged to have been part of it.”
