In light of the recent catastrophe, we dedicate a film evening to the city of Beirut to highlight its importance as a place of film culture. The proceeds of the evening will be donated to the Metropolis Art Cinema Association.
6:00 p.m.
Short Film Programme about Beirut (75 mins)
Post-screening discussion with all three filmmakers via Zoom.
LAST DAYS OF THE MAN OF TOMORROW
Germany/Lebanon 2017. D: Fadi [the fdz] Baki
Cast: Jannick Miklitz, Tony Harouni, Romy Melhem, Houssam Sabbah. 29 mins. DCP. Original language version with German subtitles.
TSHWEESH
Lebanon/Germany/Spain/Qatar 2017. D: Feyrouz Serhal
Cast: Petra Serhal. 26 mins. DCP. Original language version with German subtitles.
WAVES ’98
Lebanon/Qatar 2015. D: Ely Dagher. 15 mins. DCP. Original language version with English subtitles.
Mockumentary THE LAST DAYS OF THE MAN ON TOMORROW tells the turbulent story of a giant robot. Manivelle, who was considered the immortal “Nouvel Homme” in the 50s, is now nothing but a rusty and forgotten creature. In Beirut, a young filmmaker sets off in search of a legend whose history reflects the history of the country of Lebanon.
TSHWEESH reports on a highly anticipated major event: the soccer world championship. The people in Beirut follow the start of the tournament with excitement, but when the transmission of the first game is disturbed by strange sound waves, the frustration of the fans leads to an even bigger event.
The animated film WAVES ’98 is about the student Omar, who grew up in the segregated suburbs of Beirut without ever having seen parts of the city. One day a strange apparition lures him into the depths of the city. He dives into a world that is so close and yet so far away from his previous reality that he is in danger of losing the connection to his home.
8:15 p.m.
DIE FÄLSCHUNG Circle of Deceit
FRG/France 1981 D: Volker Schlöndorff
Cast: Bruno Ganz, Jerzy Skolimowski, Hanna Schygulla, Gila von Weitershausen, Jean Carmet. 108 minutes. DCP. Original language version with German subtitles.
War correspondent Georg Laschen is on assignment in Lebanon. Every night he is out and about with his photographer in the ruins of Beirut. In his work, the worldly-wise Laschen is torn between a latent longing for death and a fascination for the buzzing life in the metropolis. One day he meets Ariane, an Arab employee of the German embassy. She changes not only his view of the country, but also his view of life and work.
