Manara (film)
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Pascale Seigneurie
Hala Basma Safieddine
| Manara | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Film poster | |
| Directed by | Zayn Alexander |
| Written by | Pascale Seigneurie |
| Produced by | ZMA Entertainment |
| Starring | Zayn Alexander Pascale Seigneurie Hala Basma Safieddine |
| Cinematography | Aron Meinhardt |
| Edited by | Stephanie Nassar |
| Distributed by | Premiere Film (International) MAD Solutions (Arab world) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 15 minutes |
| Country | Lebanon |
Manara (Arabic: منارة) is the second short film directed by Lebanese filmmaker Zayn Alexander. It premiered in 2019 during the 76th Venice International Film Festival in the Giornate degli Autori section.[1] The film was awarded the top prize at the 5th annual Laguna Sud - Il Cinema fuori dal Palazzo by a jury that included director Paola Randi, director of photography Valerio Azzali, and writer Franceso Targhetta.[1][2][3][4] It went on to win the "Ahmed Khedr Award for Excellence in Arab Filmmaking" at the 2020 ÉCU The European Independent Film Festival and "Best Narrative Short Film" at the 2020 Alexandria Short Film Festival in Egypt.[5][6][7][8]
In a coastal town in Southern Lebanon, the Zayyad family seemed to have it all: A hotel by the sea, a lasting marriage, and strong family ties. But this seemingly perfect portrait takes a hit when the father dies under mysterious circumstances. Alia, the bereaved wife, is intent on lying about her husband’s cause of death in order to maintain appearances, despite the vehement objections of her adult children, Rami and Noura. One hour before the mourners’ arrival, and still struggling to agree on a course of action, Alia, Noura and Rami are forced to reevaluate the long dysfunctional family dynamic that brought them here in the first place.
Cast
- Zayn Alexander as Rami
- Pascale Seigneurie as Noura
- Hala Basma Safieddine as Alia
Themes
Alexander said he made the film to explore "the obsession with appearances in Lebanon" and "the lengths Lebanese families are willing to go to avoid embarrassment."[1] Alexander and the film's writer, Seigneurie, who also co-stars, said the film's development was guided by their deep-rooted frustration with the psychological attitudes of the culture they grew up in.[9] The film explores the stigma of mental health issues in Lebanon and the generational divide when it comes to mental health, grief, and family.[8] Alexander, who has a master's degree in psychology from Columbia University, wanted to explore the tensions families go through as they struggle with secrecy and shame.[1][9]
Production
The bulk of the film was shot in two days in Tyre, Lebanon at the resort of Al Fanar.[1][8] It is Alexander's second short film working with writer and actor Pascale Seigneurie, following their collaboration on Alexander's directorial debut Abroad (2018).[10][9]