Fantastic!

Best movie ever!

A Brilliant Conflict

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

Ziad Doueiri, whose credentials as a cameraman include "Pulp Fiction" and "Jackie Brown", crafts one of the most memorable directorial debuts of the 90's in this coming of age tale set in Beirut in 1975 after the civil war breaks out. The film is a remarkably realistic (and obviously autobiographical) portrayal of a Beirut at the time as well as the numerous social and religious rifts in Lebanese culture, but is mostly focused on the experiences of three teenagers, Tarek (the main character, played by the director's brother Rami), Omar (his friend), and May, a Christian girl who recently moved to Beirut.That is what makes this film completely unique among those centered on Middle Eastern political and relgious issues, that it uses three young characters who are just beginning to explore life and sex to look at the issues that keep Lebanon so fractured to this day. It's through their relatively innocent eyes that much of the ugliness of war is portrayed in the film, and the scenes with them are far more affecting than those with Tarek's parents or any of the other supporting characters simply because Doueiri expertly captures the initial playfulness of their movement through the city and how naive their view of war is, only for them to slowly realize how serious the situation is (at one point Omar and Tarek join in a rally without knowing the implications of what they were calling for, only for the rally to be attacked by militants. The group's innocence is completely lost in a remarkable scene where the three attempt to get a Super 8 film developed only to come across a group of fervent Islamist militants, who capture them and are literally seconds away from discovering the cross May wears around her neck, the equivalent of a death sentence at the time, before Omar talks them into releasing the three. Doueiri claims this incident actually occurred. Doueiri's style is loose and liberated, obviously influenced by the French New Wave and featuring excellent use of hand-held camera. Anyone expecting a concise, tight narrative will be disappointed, as "West Beyrouth" (the title is a reflection of how frequently and interchangeably French and English are used in Lebanon in place of Arabic) is a loosely-knit, episodic sort of film which suits the nature of its story very well. What is really refreshing about this film is that it has absolutely no political agenda to push, it is purely about the characters and about how normal citizens are affected by this sort of guerrilla warfare. The film is remarkably human in its approach and execution, never attempting to be a tear-jerker and always maintaining a sense of humor (not one always well-captured by the English subtitles, which are otherwise serviceable), which only makes the drama seem more real when it does occur, not that much of this film is fiction. An outstanding debut from a gifted director. 9/10

i have seen this movie, and i am a Lebanese. this movie is an alienation of history and is in no way related to the historical course that the Lebanese war took. it is not recommended to build a view of the Lebanese war, based on this movie. it describes the beginning of the war in a unilateral point of view and is one-sided. too bad the director couldn't make a better movie with the good plot he had. more historical reviews and interviewing many still-alive witnesses would have helped. the Lebanese haven't yet produced a movie about the war that meets their expectations, and the mere fact that the issue of the war is not yet solved amongst different communities make sit difficult to produce a movie about it now.

And I'm sure, he would learn a thing or two about how to make a satirical comedy based on war. This non-showy, unpretentious movie shows how one can make a fine satirical movie based on a war, and at the same time make people think. To me, this is a very realistic movie disguised in the form of comedy that satires everything. And this is a movie filled with pretty accurate political commentary too. As an outsider, and one whose knowledge of the whole Middle-East conflict is mainly book-based, and yet one who lived there for a part of his life, I think what this movie shows exactly how things are screwed up. Lebanon, in spite of not being directly involved in a war with Israel, had to bear its wrath because Syria has used Lebanese soil for decades to fight with Israel, and Israel retaliated (and used some of the Lebanese waring groups). Over the years, the big-mouthed Arab leaders did a lot of lip service and yet did not do anything significant for the Palestinians in real terms. Actually it was Jordan, the poorest country of that region, which ever agreed to accept Palestinian refugees. And the sum total of this was that countries like Lebanon had to bear the brunt of it. I loved this movie; it's a very nice movie and it tackles many issues without being preachy.

I lived outside Lebanon my entire life. When I went back ten years after the war has ended, I saw a normal style of life. Although I have learned a lot about the civil through my dad and books, but I was not able to imagine the way the war was conducted. The weird incidents of two men talking to each other one day, and then killing each other the next day. I did not comprehend the killing of two Lebanese guys of each other due to different of religious sects. When I saw this movie with my dad, I felt a small gesture of sadness coming out of my father.The details of the movie were close enough to the sad reality that happened in Lebanon. Even the militia check points were similar to the one my father told me about. The main characters in the movie were two Muslim boys and a Christian girl. Despite the lack of work, food, and other necessities, their families did not leave their houses. Ziad Doueiri, the writer and director imbedded a true concept of reality inside this movie. The innocence of the children playing around with no schools to go to and sometimes fall into dangerous situations made the movie more beautiful and gave it some sense of black satire.The story involves mainly three kids. Tarek lives with his parents in West Beirut. He and his best friend Omar are filming films and yearning to unravel the mysteries of sex. They then meet Maya, a pretty Christian girl who moves into their neighbourhood. The three of them have several adventures in the chaotic streets patrolled by Muslim militias. Tarek's most exotic experience is a surprise visit to a famous bordello run by Madame Oum Walid where he learns that peace doesn't come easily when religious hatred is involved.