EBS Space 2009-09-24 10:00 Arthouse Momo 2009-09-25 16:30
Every corner of Lebanon had become a ruin due to a war that occurred between 1975 and 1990. Seeman El Habre, a man who had decided to return to his hometown lives in a deserted village. The director, who is the nephew of Seeman, captures the silent, solitary daily life of Seeman. His quiet life becomes a story that eventually heals the wounds of everyone.
Dawn approaches, and with the cry of a rooster, Seeman El Habre’s day starts. He makes coffee and feeds his cows, horses and his chickens. His days are simple – he milks the cows, delivers them and sometimes looks at the mountains with puffing at a cigarettes. He is the only person in Christian village. Due to the war occurring between 1975 and 1990, the corners of Lebanon became a ruin and many people left their homes. Although the war was officially over in 1994, many people could not erase the memory of destruction and loss that remained in their hearts and also in the country itself. Seeman also carries with him the tragedies that befell him so many others. The way of his life might seem to be the saddest of all the alternatives. However, Seeman is satisfied with his free and quiet existence. His nephew, who is the director of this film, captures the silent daily life of Seeman from a distance. The director seems observant because he finds it difficult to understand his uncle who chose to live in solitude in a ruined village. However, the director wishes to view him as a Lebanon citizen in order to express the sadness felt by the individual, a symbol for the nation at large. The director does not miss to depict the mass recollection of the citizens, and the perceptions made among the continuing intermingling memories. The film is full of suggestions as well as historical messages the director does not fail to convey. (Hawng Kyun-min)
2008 International Film festival Dubai, Special Jury Prize
2009 Hot docs 2009, Best documentary
2009 Monaco Charity Film Festival, Special Jury Award
Simon El Habre
Born in Lebanon. He studied Audio-visual
Directing at ALBA (Academy Libanaise des
Beau-Arts) in 1998, and majored Film and
Video Editing at FEMIS in Paris. He produced
various commercials and television reportages
for the Arabian satellite channel Aljazeera,
and has edited award winning shorts and
documentaries. Since 2001, he has been
teaching students at ALBA.
Simon El Habre
