Our story demonstrates one of the more striking aspects of modern warfare: that today’s wars are fought and endured predominantly by citizens rather than by soldiers. The despair, anguish, and endless waiting that was once the soldier’s lot, now befalls every citizen of Beirut. To render a picture of this we have created a documentary tapestry, of which the 4 main threads are 4 different groups of people differently affected by the war experience.

Besides the bombardment center in Beirut, Christians leisurely sip coffee, transforming themselves into a hub for war-time intelligence. Henry, a taxi driver, moves through the streets like a war correspondent. His cab becomes a space for open discussion, where passengers from different religious and ethnic backgrounds share their stories, revealing the true diversity of society during wartime. On the streets, a displaced Muslim oud player and his son struggle every day with the uncertainty of whether to stay or leave. Trapped between displacement and uncertainty, they even imagine a fictional ending set in the future as a way of coping with their helplessness in the face of reality. Meanwhile, in a shelter converted from a bar, Ahmed, a middle-aged man overwhelmed by the pressures of war ruined life , finds emotional comfort in an online romance with Safa, a Syrian woman. As the war takes its course, their virtual love eventually crosses into the real world.

In a land once known as the “Switzerland of the East,” now surrounded by shelling and ruins, people turn to love, humor, and resilience as their own forms of healing. Through these small but powerful acts, they try to soothe their wounded hearts.