Yazan Halwani Immortalizes “West Beirut” Movie in a Gorgeous Mural on the Former Green Line

Yazan is an old friend from back in my AUB days. He even designed one of my blog headers a few years back. Last Friday, Yazan completed his latest masterpiece, a mural near Sodeco Square, on the former “Green Line” that used to divide Christian East Beirut, and Muslim West Beirut.

The mural is part of a larger project called “White Wall” by the Institut Francais du Liban (the cultural arm of the french embassy) and Goethe Institute.

The Premise: West Beirut 27 Years After the End of the War

Ziad Doueiri’s “West Beirut” is a classic movie all of us have watched time after time, and reflected on how the situation back in the 70s, is still relevant and significant today. Tarek is a young Muslim boy, and the movie revolves around him and a young Christian girl called May, whose family sought refuge in West Beirut.

In Yazan’s own words:

The mural is a reminder of Lebanon’s post-war settlement: a political system built on sectarianism and business interest that blocks true national cohesion. The persistence of the current political class in fueling sectarian grievances and obstructing the rule of law reflects in the ever-growing government debt, absence of basic services and limited civil rights. Case in point, 27 years after the end of the Civil War, with the absence of civil marriage Tarek and May would not be able to get married if their story had continued (…in the way I imagine).

Below are some making-of shots. If you want to see it live, make sure you go down to Sodeco, and walk towards the National Museum (Mathaf) area, and it’ll be on your right hand. It’s important to note that the “Noueiri” building that features this mural, suffered heavy damage during the Lebanese Civil War, and was rebuilt after, making it the perfect canvas, in the perfect location, for such a powerful message.