When I wrote Le Beyrouth in January 2024, I set out to capture an emotional story inspired by my father’s experience growing up during the Lebanese Civil War. Initially, it was a personal tribute to a painful yet pivotal chapter in my family’s history. However, as the war erupted in September, during the film’s production in Los Angeles, the story took on a new weight. The urgency to do justice to this narrative became even more profound as the story echoed the ongoing reality in Lebanon.

The Lebanon I know is a country defined by love, beauty, and an unbreakable spirit despite the deep scars of loss and heartbreak it carries. From the Civil War to the recent Beirut Explosion, the resilience of its people has always inspired me, but it comes at a heavy cost. Conversations with my family and friends revealed the profound sorrow of a generation robbed of their childhood – a sorrow that shaped the heart of Le Beyrouth. What began as a story about my father, grew into a reflection of Lebanon’s ongoing struggles and a tribute to its indomitable spirit.

Through this film, I hope to share a universal truth: the first casualty of war is always the innocence of children. Le Beyrouth is my attempt to give voice to this loss and to honor the resilience of those who endure.