50 audiences gathered at Chabibe Sporting Club in Beirut for the movie screening of “12 Angry Lebanese”.
Over a 15-month period, 45 inmates, some of whom were illiterate, collaborated to produce an adaptation of Reginald Rose’s renowned stage play, ’12 Angry Men,’ familiar to many through Sidney Lumet’s film starring Henry Fonda. The play’s themes of forgiveness, self-development, stigma, and hope were intentionally chosen. To the original text, director Zeina Daccache incorporated monologues, songs, and dance routines created by the prisoners themselves. This compelling documentary captures rehearsals, drama therapy sessions, and interviews, revealing both the profound dignity and despair of the inmates, as well as Daccache’s remarkable energy and patience.
Following the screening, the youth engaged in a discussion about the film’s significance in humanizing prisoners. They explored how the film challenged their perceptions of prisoners and prompted them to consider the potential for personal transformation. The conversation also raised critical questions about justice and the effectiveness of the Lebanese justice system, and the changes that need to occur.