Shadows of Beirut film explores personal and national trauma

The film ‘Shadows of Beirut’ by Tina Gharavi explores the intersection of personal trauma and the collective history of Lebanon. The narrative follows Lana, a woman who returns to Beirut after 25 years to reconcile with her dying, estranged father.

The film utilizes the 2020 Beirut explosion as a backdrop, framing the city's recent history of economic collapse and war alongside Lana's internal struggles. Themes of culture shock, language barriers, and the difficulty of navigating a familiar yet transformed landscape are central to the story. Lana's complicated relationship with her homeland is reflected in her sporadic use of Arabic and her struggle to reconcile her past with her present identity.