Under the Bombs a movie filmed in 2007 right at the end of the Lebanon War in 2006. It was directed by Philippe Aractingi - a Franco-Lebanese filmmaker.
In the midsummer 2006, the war broke out between Lebanon and Israel. The director of the film, Philippe Aractingi was not able to shoot everything adequately and decided to grab his camera and to shoot everything off the cuff, with no script whatsoever, creating the story in his head. After 10 days, he finished his creation – a 97 minutes movie called “Under The Bombs”, a story where only 2 actors were used – the rest of the cast was real people: soldiers and citizens, journalist and merchants. That is why it is possible to say that this film is real, it perfectly conveys the emotions and feelings of the characters, their struggles and decisions; I think that the director made fantastic work, showing the real war, with its horrors and nightmares. (Reuters India)
It is essential to state, that every single explosion was not staged – everything was real. All the bombs, grenades were not a part of special effects. The destruction, the horror, the death and carnage was not staged or created just for the film – it was a part of real life, a part of real war. And among these shattered things, among this war in the middle of the real life, one can see the story of the movie, where a mother tries to find her children.
The one of the main characters Zelna who is played by Nada Abou Farhat lives in Dubai. Unfortunately, she is not very happy in her marriage, and due to constant fighting within the family, she decides to send her son to his sister in Lebanon, in order to hide from him the family dissolution. However, some time later, the war breaks out between Israel and Lebanon. She is desperate to find her children, so she heads toward Lebanon through Turkey to seek the truth.
Nevertheless, even though that there was a blockade, Zelna eventually reaches the port in Beirut in the time of armistice. However, due to the tension and the war, the woman realizes that it is impossible to find a person who would want to take her to the destination point. At this point, one can finally meet the second actor in the whole movie – Georges Khabbaz who is playing Tony. He is a vulgar taxi driver, who loves money and women. Therefore, both of them set out on a quite dangerous trip throughout destroyed country in order to find Zelna’s children. (Socialist Review)
During the journey itself, one can see that the intension get higher, however it also possible to notice a development of a beautiful story unfolds in front of us about two people that try to find the truth. Tony just wants to make more money, whereas Zelna want to know and find whether her family is alive and where are they. Nonetheless, by the end of this journey, it is possible to say that they change their roles. Zelna will seek for a male attention, as she disappoints in her husband and in the fact that he did not want to go to Lebanon and find his children. And Tony, who desperately wanted to have sex with Zelna, tosses this chance aside and keeps trying to find Zelna’s family.
It is possible to say that we can see a quite wonderful and risky piece of moviemaking. The director if the movie has created a jaw dropping and real film that sets a new standard. One of the many things that make this a marvelous and exceptional film is the way and places where and how it was produced. The creator of “Under The Bombs” used funerals, aid centers refugee camps as a set for his film. An astonishing and powerful anti-war film that shows the emotion of the people in very extreme and dangerous conditions, their choices and decisions, and it is not a surprise that this movie has won various awards. (Nytimes.com)
Under the Bombs is an amazing (and risky) piece of filmmaking. What is more, the director, who could have shown the facts from a very another perspective due to his connection to Lebanon and the whole war itself, does not let his own personal thoughts and views get in the way. Here one can see not the representation of an anti-Israel film, but more as an anti-war film. There is no politics, people are concerned with the problems that face.
The realization that this film was shot during the real war in real place, and people that are involved with this movie are real people who get through this war, makes you understand that it is a truly masterpiece. It is not just a film about the war, it is real life, with only two actors in the play. It is powerful and depressing piece of moviemaking, it makes us cry and understand very important and serious issues in the world, and like in the real life, no one is sure about the happy ending.
Work Cited
Socialist Review,. 'Under The Bombs | Socialist Review'. N.p., 2015. Web. 18 June 2015.
Nytimes.com,. 'Under-The-Bombs - Cast, Crew, Director And Awards - Nytimes.Com'. N.p., 2015. Web. 18 June 2015.
Reuters India,. 'Israel-Lebanon War Sparks 'Human' Films At Sundance'. N.p., 2015. Web. 18 June 2015.
