Director/Writer: George Peter Barbari, Producers: Reine Semaan & Christelle Younes , Production Company: Bee On Set Productions, Lebanon, 87’, 2021 Rights: World (No MENA)
Etienne is taken by his friends to a prostitute for the first time. Three troubled older teens on their way to win their acceptance into manhood. We follow the friends on the way to the manhood test which they all have different feelings about and we are privy to the characters internal dialogue. Several unexpected turns take Etienne on an unforeseen journey into himself.
Not all is as it seems at first glance, in this tough examination of masculinity through the lens of a society where being yourself is not allowed.
The director George Peter Barbari says in an interview that the film is “about life in Lebanon, growing up in a country where you are not able to express yourself, express who you are, talk about your sexuality, your thoughts, your feelings, that is what the film is about for me. ”
“An impressive debut” that “burrows inside until you find yourself flooded by the fragility of life, with all its beauty and sorrow.”
Directors Bio
George Peter Barbari was born in California to an Argentinian mother and Lebanese father. He grew up in Batroun in Lebanon. His debut feature film Death of a Virgin, and the Sin of Not Living premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in the Panorama section to rave reviews. It then picked up the Special Jury prize and the FIPRESCI award at the Istanbul Film Festival, the Audience Award at the New Horizon Film Festival in Poland, and the Best First Feature Award at the Leiden Film Festival in the Netherlands. It was selected for many other prestigious film festivals such as Zürich, Cork, Trois Continent, Bergen. He is now developing his second feature film titled So the Lovers Could Come Out Again and his first English language project titled The Sun Is Dying.
CAST
FESTIVALS
Winner
2021 Istanbul Film Festival 2021New Horizons International Film Festival, Poland Audience Award International Competition
2021 Leiden International Film Festival
Nominee
2021 Berlin International Film Festival Nominee
2021 Cairo International Film Festival 2021 Nominee2021 Cork International Film Festival NomineeIstanbul Film Festival Golden Tulip International Competition
2021 Thessaloniki Film Festival Best Film
2021 Bergen International Film Festival Best International Fiction film