West Beirut (1998) - Turner Classic Movies

Brief Synopsis

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Tarek, a class clown, is kicked out of school by his teacher on April 13, 1975, just in time to see the killing of 30 bus passengers that marked the start of civil war in Beirut. Hanging out with his buddy Omar, Tarek is picked up by his mother and father who enjoy a great relationship together with

Cast & Crew

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Ziad Doueiri

Rami Doueiri

Mohammad Chamas

Rola Al Amin

Carmen Loubbos

Joseph Bou Nassar

Film Details

Also Known As

West Beyrouth

MPAA Rating

Genre

Drama

Period

Release Date

1998

Production Company

Centre National Du Cinema; Cinelibre; Douri Films; French Ministry Of Foreign Affairs; Pyramide Films; Rtbf

Distribution Company

COWBOY PICTURES/REMSTAR; Cowboy Pictures; Metrodome Distribution; New Yorker Films; SundanceTV

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 45m

Synopsis

Tarek, a class clown, is kicked out of school by his teacher on April 13, 1975, just in time to see the killing of 30 bus passengers that marked the start of civil war in Beirut. Hanging out with his buddy Omar, Tarek is picked up by his mother and father who enjoy a great relationship together with their son. His mom, Hala, is ready to leave the city but his father doesn't believe the current troubles will last. Tarek maintains a comic disposition as the war wears on and civilities between citizens begin to fade.

Director

Ziad Doueiri

Cast

Rami Doueiri

Mohammad Chamas

Rola Al Amin

Carmen Loubbos

Joseph Bou Nassar

Liliane Nemry

Leila Karam

Mahmoud Mabsout

Hassan Farhat

Extra; Milicien

Fadi Abou Khalil

Hafiz Doueiri Abel

Aida Sabra

Mohammed Ghandour

Houssam Souidan

Ali Yassine

Moustafa Fouani

Magid Bouali

Abdel Rassoul

Ali Baydoum

Ibrahim Malak

Fouad Fakhreddine

Fouad Hassan

Ghazaross Altounian

Selmane Bahi

Michel Bahri

Omar Mikati

Rindala Kodeih

Ziad El Chami

Abed Kazan

Abou Hassan

Josephine Eid

Marie Abou Kheir

Leila Kamari

Caroline Loubbos

Abia Khouri

Chirine Karame

Arze Khoder

Im Ali

Suzanne Haij

Mohammad Ali

Sarkis Khetcherian

Hovsep Kaplamian

Sherif Badreddine

Abia Zeinoun

Lara Shaftari

Marcelle Helou

Amale Sreih

Naja El Helou

Paul El Helou

Jean Haij

Eli Esta

Michel Helou

Walid Ghazale

Souraya Al Ahmar

Elle Aki

Haytham El Khatib

Nalawa Daher

Nabil Baltagi

Kalim Tacoub

Therese Daher

George Saba

Rafica Hallale

Marawan Lebbos

Mohammad El Zein

Faraj Ali

Alaa Ibrahim

Josephine Helou

Im Houssam

Crew

Elie Adabachi

Production Manager

Nagy Al Jalkh

Hassan Badreddine

Unit Production Manager

Heidi Baumberger

John Bileziklian

Musician-Flute Player

Rachid Bouchareb

Jean Brehat

Nicolas Cantin

Harry Wayne Casey

Song ("Rock Your Baby")

Stewart Copeland

Ziad Doueiri

Nadia Douri

Assistant Director

Richard Finch

Song ("Rock Your Baby")

Richard Jacques Gale

Director Of Photography

Pierre Haddad

Mayssa Issa

Marie Keyrouz

Song ("Chant Byzantin Alleluia")

Antoine Khazen

Assistant Director

Gilou Kikone

Post-Synchronization

Ulrike Laub

George Macrae

Song Performer ("Rock Your Baby")

Dominique Marcombe

Pierre Matard

Costume Designer

Muriel Merlin

Production Supervisor

Hamze Nasrallah

Francois Paumard

2nd Unit Camera Operator (2nd Unit)

Philippe Penot

Catherine Puech

Production Manager

Delphine Regnier

Script Supervisor

Sabine Sabaali

Thierry Sabatier

Jeff Seitz

Music Mixer/Co-Producer

Hratch Tokatlian

Assistant Director

Dzovig Torikian

Assistant Director

Film Details

Also Known As

West Beyrouth

MPAA Rating

Genre

Drama

Period

Release Date

1998

Production Company

Centre National Du Cinema; Cinelibre; Douri Films; French Ministry Of Foreign Affairs; Pyramide Films; Rtbf

Distribution Company

COWBOY PICTURES/REMSTAR; Cowboy Pictures; Metrodome Distribution; New Yorker Films; SundanceTV

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 45m

Quotes

Trivia

Miscellaneous Notes

Winner of FIPRESCI prize at the 1998 Toronto International Film Festival.

Winner of the Jury's First Film Award at the 1998 Carthage Film Festival of Arab and African Cinema.

Released in United States Summer September 3, 1999

Released in United States on Video March 17, 2001

Released in United States 1998

Released in United States October 1998

Released in United States November 1998

Released in United States 1999

Shown at Montreal World Film Festival (out of competition) August 27 - September 7, 1998.

Shown at Carthage Film Festival of Arab and African Cinema in Carthage, Tunisia October 23-31, 1998.

Shown at London Film Festival November 5-19, 1998.

Shown at New Directors/New Films in New York City March 26 - April 11, 1999.

Shown at Rotterdam International Film Festival (main program) January 27 - February 7, 1999.

Shown at Seattle International Film Festival (New Directors Showcase) May 13 - June 6, 1999.

Feature directorial debut for Ziad Doureiri.

Composer Stewart Copeland, formerly of "The Police," lived in Lebanon for ten years after his father opened the CIA's bureau in Beirut.

Released in United States Summer September 3, 1999

Released in United States on Video March 17, 2001

Released in United States October 1998 (Shown at Carthage Film Festival of Arab and African Cinema in Carthage, Tunisia October 23-31, 1998.)

Released in United States November 1998 (Shown at London Film Festival November 5-19, 1998.)

Released in United States 1999 (Shown at New Directors/New Films in New York City March 26 - April 11, 1999.)

Released in United States 1998 (Shown at Montreal World Film Festival (out of competition) August 27 - September 7, 1998.)

Released in United States 1999 (Shown at Seattle International Film Festival (New Directors Showcase) May 13 - June 6, 1999.)

Released in United States 1999 (Shown at Rotterdam International Film Festival (main program) January 27 - February 7, 1999.)

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