Documentary from “12 Angry Lebanese”: a film by Zeina Daccache

CLDH cordially invites you to the screening of the documentary from “12 Angry Lebanese”, which will be released theatrically for the first time in Lebanon at Metropolis Empire Sofil.

To order tickets (30 000LL), please call 01 240023, or send an e mail to info@cldh-lebanon.org. All funds from the screening on September 14, 2010, will go to the Lebanese Center for Human Rights (CLDH).

A theatre director, specializing in working with disadvantaged and traumatized people, Zeina Daccache struggled to set up Lebanon’s first prison-based drama project in the country’s notorious Roumieh Prison. For 15 months, 45 inmates, some completely illiterate, found themselves working together to present an adaptation of the famous stage play ’12 Angry Men’, here re-named ’12 Angry Lebanese’. In the film, the drama therapy sessions, the interviews with the inmates, and the interaction with both director and audience, convey a message of hope, forgiveness and change.
Through their artistic journey, these “murderers, drug dealers and rapists” reveal kindness and faith in life. Inspiring and honest, this account of the prisoners’ journey demonstrates the positive effect of drama therapy and the positive effect on some of the most ostracized individuals in society.

Film by: Zeina Daccache
Cast: Inmates from Roumieh Prison
Director of Photography: Jocelyne Abi Gebrayel
Editor: Michele Tyan
Sound: Raed Younan
Original Music: Inmates from Roumieh Prison

Awards received :
• First Prize for Best Documentary (the Muhr Arab Award) & the People’s Choice Award at the 6th Annual Dubai International Film Festival 2009- Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
• First Prize (Audience Award) at the 3rd edition of Dox Box International Documentary Film Festival 2010- Damascus, Syria.

Screened at :
• Royal Film Commission- Jordan, January 2010
• Closure ceremony of Doc à Tunis Film Festival-Tunis, April 2010
• Closure ceremony of La Semaine du Documentaire de Fès, Morocco, May 2010

In July 2010, the film will be touring in Australia in the frame of the Arab Film Festival

Catharsis – Lebanese Center for Drama Therapy is the NGO who produced and implemented the pioneer artistic project 12 Angry Lebanese that was presented by the inmates of Roumieh Prison in 2009. Catharsis mission is to promote and offer therapeutic actions through the use of art and theatre processes for persons and groups especially by means of Drama Therapy.