West Beirut
1998·Lebanon·106 min.
Available on
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In April, 1975, civil war breaks out; Beirut is partitioned along a Moslem-Christian line. 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 using her underwear as a white flag for safe passage. Family tensions rise. As he comes of age, the war moves inexorably from adventure to tragedy.
DirectorZiad Doueiri
ScreenwriterZiad Doueiri
MusicStewart Copeland
CinematographyRicardo Jacques Gale
CastRami Doueiri·Mohammad Chamas·Rola Al Amin·Carmen Loubbos·Joseph Bou Nassar·Leila Karam·Mahmoud Mabsout·Hassan Farhat
Original titleWest Beyrouth (À l'abri les enfants)