The poignant documentary Dancing on the Edge of a Volcano, directed by Cyril Aris, focuses on the challenges of artistic creation in times of crisis. It will be launched in France and Switzerland with a series of premiere screenings.
There’s no need to introduce the touching documentary Dancing on the Edge of a Volcano by Cyril Aris, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Mounia Akl’s Costa Brava Lebanon. Following the devastating explosion in the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020, the film crew was faced with a heartbreaking dilemma: to continue the film project or abandon it amidst the chaos caused by the explosion. This choice becomes the central theme of Dancing on the Edge of a Volcano, which explores the resilience of a group of filmmakers, a city, and its inhabitants.
In a context where Beirut, already weakened by decades of conflict and economic crises, is further scarred, the perseverance of the team becomes a symbol of survival and artistic defiance. Cyril Aris captures these intense moments with sensitivity, pondering the extent to which art can play a role in rebuilding the city and restoring life among its people. He also deeply questions the very notion of resilience. For Cyril Aris and his team, artistic creation becomes a form of therapy as well as a way to resist psychological and material collapse. There is still hope amidst the chaos.
Don’t miss the chance to experience this work that resonates with the crises and struggles traversing Lebanon, immortalized through Aris’s camera.
A Series of Screenings in France
For its premiere, Dancing on the Edge of a Volcano will be shown in various theaters across France. Audiences will have the opportunity to view this documentary during special sessions in Paris:
- On Friday, September 20 at 8:15 PM at Espace Saint-Michel, with the director and producer in attendance, in partnership with the Lebanese Film Festival of Paris and Impact Lebanon.
- On Monday, September 23 at 8:00 PM at Les 7 Parnassiens Cinema, with the director present, in partnership with Franco-Lebanese Cultural Meeting, ESCP Lebanon, HECèdre, and ESSEC Lebanon.
The documentary will also be shown in cities like Marseille, Nice, Valence, Clermont-Ferrand, Orléans, and many others, with a national release scheduled for September 25, 2024.
For more information: Films Des Deux Rives
Swiss Premiere
In collaboration with the Lebanese Film Festival of France, whose fourth edition will take place from October 13 to 20, 2024, in Paris, Dancing on the Edge of a Volcano will have its exclusive Swiss premiere on September 25, 2024, at Cinélux in Geneva as part of the “Focus on Lebanon” program.
The screening will be introduced by the short film Beirut Facing the Monster by Philippe Audi-Dor. It will be followed by a discussion on the Beirut port explosion – the starting point for both films, in the presence of the director.
Detailed program: Cinélux
