Set over the course of a single day — June 6, 1982 — and inspired by his own perception of the conflict as a child, writer/director Oualid Mouaness’s feature debut depicts the beginning of the Lebanon War from the perspective of the teachers and pupils of a private school outside Beirut. Jumping back and forth between the points of view of Wissam, a sensitive young boy unable to grasp the magnitude of the situation who only cares about finding the perfect opportunity to tell his classmate he loves her, and two teachers, Yasmine (Nadine Labaki, Oscar®-nominated director of Capernaum, PSIFF 2019) and Joseph, who are at odds in their relationship because of different political leanings, trying to protect the children by concealing their understanding of the enormity of the events.

Winner: NETPAC Award, Toronto; FIPRESCI Prize, El Gouna

In competition for the FIPRESCI Prize

Director Oualid Mouaness is expected to be in attendance on January 9, 10, and 11.