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West Beirut (French: West Beyrouth (À l'abri les enfants); Arabic: بيروت الغربية (Beyrouth Al Gharbiyya)) is a 1998 Lebanese drama film, written and directed by Ziad Doueiri. The film was selected as the Lebanese entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 71st Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.[1][2]

West Beirut
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Ziad Doueiri
Written by	Ziad Doueiri
Starring	Rami Doueiri Mohamad Chamas Rola Al Amin
Cinematography	Ricardo Jacques Gale
Edited by	Dominique Marcombe
Music by	Stewart Copeland
Release date	1998 (1998)
Running time	105 minutes
Country	Lebanon
Languages	Arabic French
Budget	$800,000 (estimated)

Plot

In April 1975, civil war breaks out; Beirut is partitioned along a line separating the Muslim-Christian mixed West Beirut from the quasi-Christian East Beirut. After the line was created, Tarek is now considered to live in West Beirut (the mixed part and Tarek is Muslim himself) and is in high school, making Super 8 movies with his friend, Omar. At first the war is a lark: school has closed (and is situated in East Beirut no longer accessible to West Beirut residents), the violence is fascinating, getting from West to East is a game. His mother wants to leave the country; but his father refuses. Tarek spends time with May, an orphaned Christian girl living in his building. By accident, Tarek goes to an infamous brothel in the war-torn Zeytouni Quarter, meeting its legendary madam, Oum Walid. He then takes Omar and May there. Family tensions rise. Later on and as he comes of age, the war moves inexorably from adventure to a nationwide tragedy.

Cast

• Rami Doueiri as Tarek
• Mohamad Chamas as Omar
• Rola Al-Amin as May
• Carmen Lebbos as Hala, Tarek's mother
• Joseph Bou Nassar as Riad, Tarek's father
• Liliane Nemri as Nahida (a neighbor)
• Leïla Karam as Brothel Madam (Oum Walid)
• Hassan Farhat as Roadblock Militiaman
• Mahmoud Mabsout as Baker
• Fadi Abou Khalil as Bakery Militiaman

Awards

• Prix François Chalais at the Directors' fortnight of the Cannes Film Festival (1998)
• FIPRESCI International Critics' Award at the Toronto International Film Festival (1998)
• Best First Film at the Carthage Film Festival (1998)
• Youth Jury Award at the Valladolid International Film Festival (1998)
• SAA Script Award at the Fribourg International Film Festival (1999)

See also

• List of submissions to the 71st Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
• List of Lebanese submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film

References

External links

• West Beirut at IMDb

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