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On April 13, 2024, the documentary Confessions of a War about the Lebanese Civil War will premiere in Beirut, in the presence of the people who testify in it.
Nearly 34 years after the end of the fighting, former enemies of the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) have come together to deliver their poignant testimonies in the documentary Confessions from a War, directed by Sean Thompson. This film, initially scheduled for October 2023, will finally be released at the Royal Cinema in Bourj Hammoud on April 13, 2024 – the sad anniversary date of the outbreak of the conflict.
More than 200 hours of interviews were recorded with ex-combatants from different camps, now united by a sense of guilt, remorse, and a desire to pass on their experience to younger generations. Among them are Colette Tannous, Ziad Saab, Elie Abi Tayeh, Asaad al-Shaftari and Nassim Asaad. They all claim to have believed they were fighting for a just cause, for a better Lebanon. But the outcome is bitter: a destroyed and torn country, where no real reconciliation took place after the end of hostilities.
For the former enemies, participating in this documentary is a way to “tell what happened,” to “heal and ask for forgiveness.” They hope to contribute to ensuring that “the new generation does not repeat the same mistakes.” Because for them, “war is not the solution and only leads to death and destruction.”
The outbreak of new clashes in October 2023 delayed the film’s release, but also reinforced its relevance and universal message. Because beyond Lebanon, Confessions from a War shows “the futility, absurdity, and devastation of all wars,” emphasize producers Jérôme Gary and Denise Jabbour. “We all have lessons to learn from the Lebanese.”
Born in 1974, Lebanese co-producer Denise Jabbour herself grew up in the heart of the conflict in West Beirut. A witness to “the horror and cruelty of war,” but also to “the beauty and strength of the Lebanese,” she believes in the “power of dialogue” offered by this documentary. For her American counterpart Jérôme Gary, it was the remark of a young man stating that “no one had ever talked about the Civil War” that motivated this project, in order to “support the Lebanese” in this difficult work of memory.
Executive producer David McKillop sees the film as “a cry from Lebanon to humanity and a resounding warning about the pointless destruction caused by civil wars.” Because according to him, “The wounds of these wars never heal, but continue to bleed through generations.” And the evils of yesterday – “lack of trust, lies, divisions” – continue to afflict Lebanon and the world.
Director Sean Thompson concurs: “There are no winners in civil wars. Neighbors become enemies, cities turn into ruins, and parents’ broken dreams become a burden for their children.” After sorting the 200 hours of testimonies not by camp, but by the shared feelings of former enemies, he sees in them “an example of wisdom” for all.
By breaking decades of silence, Confessions from a War intends to lay the foundations for an “honest dialogue” and a necessary convergence to “rebuild the Lebanon we dream of.” A message of hope and peace that, 34 years later, resonates sadly with the current situation in Lebanon and beyond.