Lebanon, France / 110’
language Arabic
cast Adel Karam, Kamel El Basha, Camille Salameh, Diamand Abou Abboud, Rita Hayek, Talal El Jurdi, Christine Choueiri, Julia Kassar, Rifaat Torbey, Carlos Chahine
screenplay Ziad Doueiri, Joëlle Touma
cinematographer Tommaso Fiorilli
editor Dominique Marcombe
production designer Hussein Baydoun
costume designer Lara May Khamis
music Eric Neveux
sound Guilhem Donzel, Olivier Walczak, Sebastien Wera, Bruno Mercere
Cinema
Ziad Doueiri - The Insult
Synopsis
In today’s Beirut, an insult blown out of proportions finds Toni, a Lebanese Christian, and Yasser, a Palestinian refugee, in court. From secret wounds to traumatic revelations, the media circus surrounding the case puts Lebanon through a social explosion, forcing Toni and Yasser to reconsider their lives and prejudices.
Director’s Statement
The Insult was inspired by an incident that happened to me a few years ago. When I look back, I realize that this simple incident could have turned into a national crisis. Lebanon is a very complex country, contradictory and passionate. With Joëlle Touma, we wrote a story that evokes our past as much as our present. This film is about justice. That is what Toni and Yasser—the protagonists—are looking for. And the quest for justice is also a quest for dignity.
