Terra Incognita

Fiction, director: Ghassan Salhab, Lebanon/France, 2002, 120 min., Arab./Fr. with En. ST

25.4.2022 | 19.00 | Arsenal |
followed by a film talk with director Ghassan Salhab, moderated by Dr Veronica Ferreri (Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient)

Beirut in the beginning of the Millennium, a city many times destroyed, and re-built as often. A city in a constant state of construction and mutation. “Terra Incognita” reflects on the topography and history of Beirut as mirrored by the biographies of its inhabitants. While Soraya (Carole Abboud) takes tour groups to the sites of past civilizations which merge with those of recent wars, Leyla (Abla Khoury) wavers between heightened mysticism and atheism. The architect Nadim (Walid Sadek) is attempting to reinvent the city, but hardly ever leaves his apartment anymore. Tarek (Rabih Mroué) recently returned to Lebanon and is wondering why he bothered. Finally, the radio journalist Haïdar (Carlos Chahine) retreats into the role of observer. None of them dares to look back into the past, much less pursue projects for the future. It’s been 20 years since “Terra Incognita” premiered at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival, in its Un certain regard section.