Once Upon a Time, Beirut

Two young girls of the war generation, Yasmin (Michèle Tyan) and Leila (Myrna Maakaron), are in search of Beirut. They decide to visit a renowned cinephile and collector, M. Farouk (Emile Accar), to discover a Lebanon that they’ve never known. They convince him to screen his collection for them only to find themselves on a path of memories, immersed in the film universe that has, over 40 years, contributed to creating the international image of Beirut as a shining star. In the context of the war that has destroyed this city, the projection of the films that the two girls set up gives the city back a taste of its own history. (pf)