Maroun Baghdadi: Genuine Lebanese film maker
Regional-Regional, People, 4/27/1998

Renowned Lebanese filmmaker Maroun Baghdadi who died in his prime in 1994 was about to put the final touches on the movie "Comers," which dealt with Beirut, when he fell to his death down the steps of the building where he lived.

Baghdadi was born in Beirut in 1950 and got his BA in political science from the Sorbonne in Paris in 1973. He also held a degree from the higher institute for Cinematography in Paris.

In 1975, with the eruption of the of the bloody civil war, Baghdadi was provoked enough to produce his feature film "Beirut O'Beirut", casting the well-established Egyptian actor Izzat al-Alyeli and a number of Lebanese actors and actresses. The film sheds light, in detail, on the roots of conflict in Lebanon, where Lebanese society was dissected politically, economically and socially. Through the lines, one can read that Lebanon is a democratic secular state, but this slogan became a relic of the past.

Baghdadi was the last film producer to meet with the late Lebanese leader Kamal Junblat, and Baghdadi produced a film having the same name "Kamal Junblat" in 1977 which emphasized the romantic aspects which characterized Junblat.

After his film "Kafer Kala," Baghdad said: "I produced the movie, 'The Best Mothers,' in which I discovered the importance of appealing directly to the people without any demagoguery. At the time, I traveled across Lebanon to ask martyrs' families, how their sons died and what were the last things they did in their lifetime before their death."

The Lebanese filmmaker also met with the great Lebanese poet Michael Nu'eimeh and shot a documentary film bearing the poet's name, "Nu'eimeh." Another feature film, "Love All for the Homeland" followed soon, stressing the importance of national reconciliation among the Lebanese people.

Baghdadi's "Little Wars" film was produced in 1983, in which he concentrated on the absurdity and uselessness of war which runs counter and contrary to the interests and dreams of the ordinary Lebanese, the poor and those who take no sides. During his stay in France, Baghdadi produced films jointly with French filmmakers.

In 1988 he shot his film, "Lebanon, Land of Honey and Spices" as a fruit of a joint cooperation with the French side. His activities were not limited to Lebanese boundaries rather felt enough freedom and confidence to attract world movie stars such as the British actor James Fox in his film " Slowly, Slowly in the Wind," testifies that Baghdadi was a real talent among his Arab and Lebanese contemporaries.

Previous Stories:
  Film festival opens in Beirut   (10/20/1997)
  Egypt's Youssef Shahine in Lebanon   (8/11/1997)

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