Marathon Man Djokovic Eyes 15th Successive French Open Quarter-Final

This Is Beirut 2024-06-03 10:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Novak Djokovic will aim to reach his 15th successive French Open quarter-final on Monday after setting an unwanted Roland Garros record. The defending champion and 24-time Grand Slam title winner made the last 16 by defeating Italy's Lorenzo Musetti in a bruising five-set epic which concluded at 3:07 AM on Sunday. It was the latest ever finish ...

Netflix’s ‘Heeramandi’ Stirs Debate on Pakistan’s Courtesans

Béatrice Moreau 2024-06-03 18:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

The Netflix series Heeramandi reignited interest in Pakistan’s historical red-light district, but the show’s glamorous portrayal starkly contrasts with the harsh realities faced by modern-day sex workers. Netflix’s latest hit series, Heeramandi, captivated audiences with its dazzling depiction of courtesans in 1940s Lahore, Pakistan. The ...

The Greatest Books Ever Written

Sophia Novalis 2024-06-04 18:09 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Discover the most acclaimed novels that have stood the test of time, from beloved classics to modern masterpieces that have captured the hearts of readers worldwide. The question of what makes a book truly great has fascinated readers and critics for centuries. Is it the story that transports us to another world? The unforgettable characters that ...

When Music Screams War to Dream of Peace (1/2)

Alain E. Andrea 2024-07-27 10:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Composers of Western art music have depicted the tragedy of war through various musical works while yearning for long-awaited peace. The first article of this series will cover three of Beethoven’s works, as we commemorate the bicentennial of the 9th Symphony. War rages still, in the four corners of the world. A de facto truth, some would say, ...

Critics Slam 'Inhuman' Sinead O'Connor Waxwork

2024-07-28 10:41 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

A wax statue of the Irish singer Sinead O'Connor, unveiled on Thursday, July 25 at the National Wax Museum in Dublin, was removed on Friday, July 26 following a torrent of harsh criticism. The legendary performer of the global hit Nothing Compares 2 U passed away just a year ago on July 26, 2023, in London at the age of 56, prompting an ...

Tribute to Hussein Madi at Rebirth Beirut

2024-05-20 09:56 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

  In her lecture on May 15, 2024 at the Rebirth Beirut Gallery in Gemmayzeh, Aïda Cherfan payed tribute to artist Hussein Madi. In collaboration with the H. Madi Foundation, she is also exhibiting his works through his different artistic periods until May 28, 2024. The public will thus be able to rediscover the brilliant career of this ...

Easy Victory for Spain and USA in the Davis Cup

This Is Beirut 2024-09-12 10:07 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Carlos Alcaraz returned to action after his shocking US Open loss to help Spain get off to a winning start in the Davis Cup on Wednesday. The 21-year-old French Open and Wimbledon winner was knocked out of the Flushing Meadows Grand Slam in the second round last month. With time on his hands, he made an impromptu trip to Monza to watch the ...

Paradise or Hell: The Ultimate Kiss of Life (2/2)

Alain E. Andrea 2024-09-03 20:13 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

In the shadow and light of paradise, the quest for the ultimate kiss of life leads us to a crossroads between celestial aspiration and earthly realities. Through the works of Liszt, Fauré, and Abou Mrad, this article explores, through music, the promise of eternal bliss and the transcendence of divine communion. Paradise. A word that evokes such ...

Venice Film Festival: Daniel Craig's Anguished Turn in 'Queer'

Béatrice Moreau 2024-09-04 10:38 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

  Daniel Craig sheds his 007 persona to portray the torment of a drug-addicted gay man in an emotional adaptation of William Burroughs' novel Queer. Raw and riveting. In a stark departure from his suave James Bond image, Daniel Craig takes on a grittier, more vulnerable role in the new film Queer, which premiered Tuesday at the Venice Film ...

From Novel to Screen: "Bonjour Tristesse” at Toronto Film Festival

2024-09-07 18:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Durga Chew-Bose revives Bonjour Tristesse for a new generation at the Toronto Film Festival. Canadian writer-turned-director Durga Chew-Bose recently took on the ambitious project of adapting Françoise Sagan's 1954 novel Bonjour Tristesse (“Hello Sadness”). Chew-Bose didn't stop at writing; she also offered creative direction on costumes and ...

Paris Paralympics Closing Ceremony: A Dazzling Celebration of Johnny, Breakdance and Electro

Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-09-09 11:31 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

The Paris Paralympic Games came to a spectacular end on Sunday, during a ceremony that blended emotional tributes, breathtaking artistic performances and a celebration of French electronic music, capping off an extraordinary summer filled with sports and togetherness. The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games concluded in style on Sunday evening at the ...

Red Sea Film Foundation Showcases Arab Talent at TIFF

This Is Beirut 2024-09-09 14:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

At TIFF, Red Sea Film Foundation highlights Arab cinema with panels and screenings. The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) showcases this year a dynamic slate of films supported by the Red Sea Film Foundation (Red Sea FF), an example for Arab cinematic talent. Among the films supported by the Red Sea Film Foundation highlights at the ...

Basketball: Al-Riyadi, from Asia to the World

2024-09-09 18:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

  Beirut's Al-Riyadi Club is heading to the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, to participate in the Intercontinental Club Cup from September 12 to 15, with the ambition of delivering an honorable performance. This marks the first time a Lebanese club competes at this level. Representing Asia, Al-Riyadi hopes to shine in the tournament. The ...

Nidal Haddad: Abou Melhem and Oum Melhem, Model Grandparents for the Lebanese

Bélinda Ibrahim 2024-09-13 18:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

  Last Wednesday, Aley paid a heartfelt tribute to Abou Melhem and Oum Melhem, the legendary couple of Lebanese television. During this emotional ceremony, their granddaughter, Nidal Haddad, spoke with emotion about the authenticity, wisdom, and lasting imprint her grandparents left in the hearts of the Lebanese, calling them “model ...

Anxiety in Lebanon: A Permanent Shadow Cast on the Psyche

David Sahyoun 2024-08-28 18:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Every week, we invite you to explore a striking theme from a great psychoanalyst to reveal its depth and richness. These lapidary, often provocative formulas open up new perspectives on the intricacies of the human psyche. By deciphering these quotes with rigor and pedagogy, we invite you on a fascinating journey to the heart of psychoanalytic ...

“Unframed” Documentary Shorts: A Fresh Look at Contemporary Lebanese Artists

2024-09-19 18:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Created by Bachir Asmar and Jean-Claude Boulos, a series of documentaries titled Unframed was recently launched under the banner of Ziggy’s production company. The premiere of this first season took place on September 9 at Espace Dadour in Jal el Dib. The premiere night of the Unframed documentaries gathered film enthusiasts for a screening, ...

"Voyage Enchanteur" of Abdel Rahman el Bacha at the Institut du Monde Arabe

2024-09-20 20:50 - Reading : 7 minute(s)

  Voyage Enchanteur, a concert by Abdel Rahman el Bacha will be held at the Institut du Monde Arabe. This event will enable the Tripoli Lebanon Heritage Association, which organizes it, to fund the Tripoli Focus Days on November 23 and 24 at the IMA, in celebration of Tripoli being named the "Arab Cultural Capital." An exclusive interview ...

Renoir and Sisley: Soon to Find New Owners at Auction

This Is Beirut 2024-09-26 14:09 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Sotheby’s Paris will announce, on October 18, the auction of two Impressionist masterpieces: Les Cariatides by Renoir and Les Péniches by Alfred Sisley. Two paintings by renowned Impressionist masters, Auguste Renoir and Alfred Sisley, will be auctioned by Sotheby’s in Paris on October 18, the auction house announced on Monday. These works ...

San Sebastian Celebrates Albert Serra With Winning Film 'Tardes de Soledad'

This Is Beirut 2024-09-29 18:12 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

On September 28, 2024, Catalan filmmaker Albert Serra won the Golden Shell at the San Sebastian International Film Festival for his bullfighting documentary, Tardes de soledad, despite protests from animal rights groups. Catalan director Albert Serra's bullfighting documentary Tardes de soledad took home the Golden Shell, the top award at the San ...

Biden, Trump Fight Over Deadly Hurricane Helene

This Is Beirut 2024-10-01 05:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

United States

The death toll from a devastating storm that battered the southeastern United States climbed to 118 on Monday, as the disaster became a hot topic in an already bitter election campaign, with the White House angrily refuting claims it had been slow to respond. With hundreds still missing across several southeastern US states and the death toll ...

Kris Kristofferson: Celebrating the Life of a Country Music Icon

Béatrice Moreau 2024-10-02 13:48 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Kris Kristofferson, the celebrated country music star, actor and songwriter known for timeless hits like Me and Bobby McGee and his role in A Star is Born, passed away at the age of 88. His family announced that he died peacefully at home in Hawaii on September 28, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in both music and film. Kris Kristofferson, a ...

Much Anticipated 'Star Wars Outlaws' Video Game Released

This Is Beirut 2024-08-30 13:34 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

After more than four years in the making, French video game designer Ubisoft released on Friday its much-anticipated "Star Wars Outlaws," an immersive spinoff from the famed saga. The group's first foray into the universe created by George Lucas, "Outlaws," is an open-world adventure featuring Kay Vess, a young outlaw who travels the galaxy far ...

Paradise or Hell: The Ultimate Kiss of Life (1/2)

Alain E. Andrea 2024-08-27 17:39 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

The striking contrast between Paradise and Hell remains an inexhaustible source of artistic inspiration, where the promise of eternal redemption clashes with the ultimate desolation of darkness. In the first article of this series, we will explore, through three works, the night of infinite torments. "Abandon hope, all ye who enter here." This ...

Divided We Stand 

2024-07-29 10:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Benjamin Netanyahu United States

If I had to choose a motto to depict, by and large, the international scenery, I would opt for the above-mentioned aphorism. The chaotic landscapes burgeoning, throughout the various geopolitical spectrums, is a quite appropriate representation when it comes to describing the dynamics of implosion on the crossroads between domestic and ...

The 'Odyssée Musicale' Kick Starts with 'Mystères Baroques' in Zouk Mikael

This Is Beirut 2024-08-07 10:59 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

The Bacchus Social Club inaugurated its L’Odyssée musicale Festival by presenting Mystères Baroques, a concert dedicated to baroque music. The municipal library of Zouk Mikael, adorned with books, offered the audience a unique experience where baroque music intertwined with the literary world, creating an unprecedented and immersive ...

When Music Screams War to Dream of Peace (2/2)

Alain E. Andrea 2024-07-29 14:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

In his triptych of war symphonies, Shostakovich vividly captures the turmoil of World War II. His symphonic music, alternating between heroic and satirical, is an intense meditation on the horrors of war, with moments of chaotic violence and poignant lamentation. War rages still, in the four corners of the world. A de facto truth, some would ...

Olympic Games 2024 - Swimming : McKeown Delivers More Aussie Gold as Ireland's Wiffen Makes History

This Is Beirut 2024-07-31 13:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Kaylee McKeown won back-to-back gold in the women's 100m backstroke while Daniel Wiffen made history as he became the first Irishman to win a swimming gold as he swept to victory in the 800m freestyle at the Paris Games on Tuesday. There was also joy for Great Britain's men who defended their 4x200m freestyle relay gold with a convincing ...

Serial Populisms

Nicolas Sbeih 2024-08-01 07:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

We are used to criticizing politicians, the Lebanese Central Bank (BDL) at times, as well as Hezbollah and its offshoots—on this platform and elsewhere. We blame them for their misdeeds, their incompetence, their ignorance, their greed or all four at once. I admit that doing so is usually a breeze, given that politicians supply a steady stream ...

Patriarch Estephanos Doueihi (2/2)

2024-08-01 12:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Estephanos Doueihi initiated a liturgical and cultural reform that reconnected with Antiochian roots while upholding allegiance to Rome, within a Syriac-Latin syncretism that confirmed his Chalcedonian and Catholic identity. He perceived the Maronite culture as a synthesis of Syriac poetic expression and Western positivist philosophy. A thousand ...

Britney Spears’ ‘Failures’: Reflections of a Troubled Soul

2024-08-02 13:58 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

The gallery Les Filles du Calvaire in Paris currently explores the complex universe of Britney Spears. The exhibition continues until September 21, 2024. Once upon a time, a 17-year-old girl became a global idol with her hit Baby One More Time. A fairy tale? Not quite. The gallery Les Filles du Calvaire tells a different story in its exhibition ...