| West Beirut | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Ziad Doueiri |
| Written by | Ziad Doueiri |
| Starring | Rami Doueiri Mohamad Chamas Rola Al Amin |
| Music by | Stewart Copeland |
| Cinematography | Ricardo Jacques Gale |
| Editing by | Dominique Marcombe |
| Release date(s) | 1998 |
| Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country | Lebanon |
| Language | Arabic |
West Beirut (Arabic: Beyrout al gharbiyya — بيروت الغربية) is a 1998 Lebanese drama film written and directed by Ziad Doueiri.
Contents |
In April 1975, civil war breaks out; Beirut is partitioned along a Muslim-Christian line and is divided into East and West Beirut. Tarek is in high school, making Super 8 movies with his friend, Omar. At first the war is a lark: school has closed, the violence is fascinating, getting from West to East is a game. His mother wants to leave; his father refuses. Tarek spends time with May, a Christian, orphaned and living in his building. By accident, Tarek goes to an infamous brothel in the war-torn Olive Quarter, meeting its legendary madam, Oum Walid. He then takes Omar and May there. Family tensions rise. As he comes of age, the war moves inexorably from adventure to tragedy.