In the Shadow of Beirut

Name: In the Shadow of Beirut
Genre: Documentary
Released: January 14, 2025
Duration: 92 min
Rating: 80

2025

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Generally favorable reviews based on 5 Critic Reviews

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In The Shadow Of Beirut

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Movie Details & Credits

ARTE Mediathek | Release Date (Streaming): January 14, 2025 | Not Rated

Summary: In Sabra, one of Beirut’s toughest urban slums, sectarianism and violence is a permanent way of life. Rabia, a 38-year-old hardworking but undocumented Lebanese mother, cannot afford to admit her chronically ill daughter to hospital, leaving the life of her innocent child hanging in the balance. Father of five, Ayman is preparing the wayIn Sabra, one of Beirut’s toughest urban slums, sectarianism and violence is a permanent way of life. Rabia, a 38-year-old hardworking but undocumented Lebanese mother, cannot afford to admit her chronically ill daughter to hospital, leaving the life of her innocent child hanging in the balance. Father of five, Ayman is preparing the way for his daughter Sanaa’s engagement to a local man as his way of protecting her in the neighborhood as he labors to provide the most basic essentials for his family to survive. Young father Aboodi is struggling to kick his drug habit, which has brought him to prison before, as he battles to find a new path in life that will make him a better parent to his toddler son. In nearby Shatila, Abu Ahmad, an 8-year-old, angelic-looking but mischievous Syrian boy who fled ISIS, labors hard to feed his family while forging an unlikely friendship with a civil war veteran and fruit stall owner. In the Shadow of Beirut weaves these four compelling storylines together in a searing portrait of a people and a city struggling to survive amidst some of the most difficult living conditions imaginable. In this failing state, it is the vulnerable who suffer the most.… Expand

Director: Garry Keane and Stephen Gerard Kelly

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 92 min

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Critic Reviews

Donald Clarke

Jan 4, 2024

There are endless nuances and ironies throughout. Though stories are told, In the Shadow of Beirut is more a mosaic than a narrative tapestry. Read full review

Matthew Roe

Jan 4, 2024

There is still life behind the eyes of each weary face and still deep-felt reasons to strive for a better tomorrow, even in the wake of such destruction and desolation. Read full review

Dennis Harvey

Jan 4, 2024

Despite so much cause for grief, what’s striking about the protagonists is their cordiality and resilient hopefulness. Read full review

Fionnuala Halligan

Jan 4, 2024

The shame this film provokes – or should provoke – in collective society will make it difficult and distressing viewing. And there’s no beauty to show here, despite former cinematographer Kelly’s accomplished work. There’s always love, though. If only there was more to go around. Read full review

Nicolas Rapold

Jan 14, 2025

The four stories are almost overwhelming to witness all packed together, but the mission to communicate them to a larger audience is admirable. Read full review

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