West Beirut (West Beyrouth) (NR)

synopsis

Tarek (Rami Doueiri), Omar (Mohamed Chamas), and May (Rola Al Amin) roam the streets of the city, searching for their next adventure. Their parents worry that they're becoming too wild, but the kids don't care. A common situation in any country, at any time - only this is Beirut, Lebanon in 1975, a city split by the first stirrings of war. School has been shut down and the city they love has been torn in two - there is now a Christian-controlled East Beirut, and West Beirut, run by the new Muslim militias and where the three friends live. For the kids, the political schism means greater freedom, and the kids find pleasure in biking, talking, and falling in love. But they cannot ignore the war forever.