The Birds Have Left Beirut

When fifteen-year-old Nour is forced to marry Maurice whom she despises, her carefree summer days morph into claustrophobic confinement and household chores. Nour mourns her lost childhood and scattered dreams.

“MALAKI - Scent of an Angel” revolves around the families of abducted persons during and in the aftermath of the Lebanese civil war. It sheds the light on the trauma of six different families constantly teetering on the brink of incertitude. Put this way, each family does not know the fate of their abducted family member; whether he is alive or dead. The very premise of the film is humane for it depicts the broken emotional ties within the family away from any political implication. The film combines real interviews within a surreal set on the one hand, and surreal fiction on the other hand. The interviews reveal the family’s reaction towards the abduction of a member. The fiction part is an incarnation of their fantasies; that is, an awaited day of reunion, a recurring dream and a fantasy. The film plays on the notion of blurred reality and fantasies since the families’ reality is unbearable; ultimately, they escape to their dream.