New Lebanese film, At directors fortnight screening in Cannes where it got a 30 minute standing ovation. 220px-Tramontane_2016.jpg
Original Arabic title is RABIH, the name of the central protagonist,played by a non-professional actor, Barakat Jabbour, who is actually blind. Rabih, a young blind man, lives in a small village in Lebanon. He sings in a choir and edits Braille documents for an income. His life unravels when he tries to apply for a passport and discovers that his identification card, which he has carried his entire life, is a forgery. He then sets out to find his unknown biological father in another part of the country against daunting obstacles. The family he tracks down would rather not know... Director Vatche Boulghourjian knows how to tell a story with the sparest of means and is clearly a new Middle Eastern talent to keep an eye on. He is, incidentally, of Armenian background. The original Lebanese music we hear and see played all through the film is exceptional and a refreshing change from the usual descriptive music heard in most western films.
Plot summary
Rabih, a young blind man, lives in a small village in Lebanon. He sings in a choir and edits Braille documents for an income. His life unravels when he tries to apply for a passport and discovers that his identification card, which he has carried his entire life, is a forgery. Traveling across rural Lebanon in search of a record of his own birth, he meets people on the far fringes of society who tell their own stories, open further questions and give Rabih minor clues about his true identity. Descending into a void at the heart of his existence, Rabih encounters a nation incapable of telling his or its own narrative.
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Movie Reviews
A discovery st Cannes
A tranquil narration following exclusive traces of war in post-war Lebanon
With no agitative langue, the film tells past war's affects on individuals's today. Film's visual and musical ability creates a poetic atmosphere. Absolutely, must be seen!
Intriguing but lacks wind power
A Lebanese mystery film; A story about a young man who is blind and discovers his family is not his real family. Lebanese singer and musician Barakat Jabbour takes us on a journey with his character which is distinctive and intriguing. He delivers a dirge on his plight which is his redemption and revelation. But, while a musical performance ultimately delivered a show piece of haunting harmonies, the intriguing plot needed at least some payoff for the gripped viewer.