To commemorate the Aug. 4, 2020, Beirut Port explosion, Metropolis Cinema is organizing two exclusive screenings of the L'Orient-Le Jour documentary "Aug. 4: Anatomy of a Foretold Catastrophe," on Aug. 6 and 7 at 6 p.m.
This 70-minute documentary, available here on YouTube, brings together for the first time revelations from journalists, researchers and other engaged citizens who undertook tireless investigations to break the silence and piece together the criminal puzzle that led to the double explosion at the Beirut Port in 2020. Spanning seven years of events, the film, directed by Lucile Wassermann, retraces the origins of the tragedy: the journey of the ship Rhosus; a murky transaction involving shell companies; its diversion to Lebanon, where it was never meant to go; and the warnings about its dangerous cargo that were ignored by Lebanese authorities, culminating in the explosion of Aug. 4, 2020. The documentary also revisits the many rumors and theories that emerged in the aftermath of the disaster — including the possible involvement of Israel, Hezbollah, or the Bashar al-Assad regime — and examines what seven years of investigations have established, qualified or ruled out.
The screenings will take place on Aug. 6 and 7 at 6 p.m. at Metropolis Cinema in Mar Mikhael, Beirut.
You can buy your tickets by clicking here.
Director: Lucile Wassermann
Production: L'Orient-Le Jour
Cinematography: Jad Abou Jaoude, Mohammad Yassine, Lucile Wassermann
Editing: Jad Abou Jaoude
Color grading: Ziad al-Malla/Dedica Post
Sound mixing: Joseph Obied/Dedica Post
Music: Envato/AudioJungle
Archives: Agence France-Presse
Documents: Human Rights Watch, OCCRP, L'Orient-Le Jour
Editorial adviser: Séverine Bardon
Editor-in-chief: Anthony Samrani
