
Illustrations created by Jaimee Lee Haddad
The news cycle rattled full steam ahead this week with the appointment of Nawaf Salam, the parliamentary consultations, Macron’s visit to Lebanon and of course the long-awaited cease-fire in Gaza. As we reflect on the magnitude of this week's events, perhaps we can allow ourselves a sigh of relief. And maybe this weekend might finally feel like the right moment to appreciate the beautiful stories that are easily missed in the turmoil of the news. Here’s my selection to get you on your way.
Lana Daher wins IDFA Rough Cut award for documentary 'Do You Love Me?'
We begin in Lana Daher’s office-apartment in the Abdel Wahab neighbourhood of Achrafieh, the birthplace of her award winning documentary, which “pieces together the fragments of a shattered Lebanese collective memory.” Gilles Khoury gives us a flavor of the highly acclaimed film which centers on the fundamental question: Does Lebanon love us as much as we love it?

Inside Jane Birkin’s world
Speaking of cinema, Karl Richa sat down with Gabrielle Crawford, the close confidante of Jane Birkin, offering us a rare perspective into the life of the bona fide icon. Through Crawford’s stories we learn about Brikin’s suppressed political views, her relationships and the glamorous circles they ran in which featured John Lennon, Serge Gainsbourg, Brigitte Bardot and even former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher – that was a crossover I was not expecting.

The magic of lighting a Lebanese candle
We can all agree, Lebanon’s uniqueness runs deep, even down to the very composition of its earth. This is what draws ceramicists Zeina Aboul-Hosn and Colette Arslan to exclusively use Lebanese clay in their pottery, which is on display at their collective’s latest exhibition, “Light Me Up!”, in Achrafieh. Yara Malka spoke with the artists about their whimsical creations and found out more about what makes Lebanese clay so special.

Lebanese motorcyclists make history
This week we’ve all been cheering on tennis player Hady Habib but he wasn’t the only sportsman to make history. Ihab Hakim and Rafic Eid became the first Lebanese competitors to tackle the gruelling Dakar motorcycle rally in Saudi Arabia. How well did training in Lebanon prepare them for this punishing race? Lisa Goursaud spoke with the riders to find out.

The theatricality of frikeh
What connects frikeh with the stage? And how did Hiba Najem’s academic research take her from frikeh to Greek mythology? Nanette Ziade-Ritter explains it all in her review of Najem’s intriguing play at Zoukak Theater in Beirut. The performance combines traditional Lebanese cooking with experimental theatre, enriched by nods to Sudanese, Italian, and Mexican traditions, into a sensory, cultural and intellectual feast.

Joseph Aoun’s celebrity admirers
Finally, for a lighter take on the presidential election, Raphael Abdelnour explores the cascade of celebrity praise for newly elected president, Joseph Aoun. In a world where many artists often tread carefully around political matters for fear of alienating their fan base, are these genuine, heartfelt political endorsements, or is there something more in it for them?
