West Beirut

Review by Hannah Jacobson

The short: 

West Beirut follows a high school boy’s experience in the Lebanese civil war. 

The long: 

In 1975, civil war broke out in Beirut. The film follows Tarek and his friends as they navigate becoming adults in the midst of the Lebanese civil war. Throughout the film Tarek appears thrilled by the chaos because it means that he no longer has to attend school and can devote more time to filming on his Super 8 camera. However, the only shop that can develop the film is located in West Beirut. Thus, Tarek and his friends embark on an adventure to get their film developed.  

To watch or not to watch:

Watch! While on the surface the film appears to highlight teenage recklessness, it is a film about the ways people cope with the trauma of war. The film offers a beautiful commentary on the facades people embody in their attempt to keep their soul alive all while exploring family dynamics and the weight of the decision to either stay in or leave Beirut.