Beirut: The Last Home Movie

Beirut: The Last Home Movie is a profound and poignant documentary film from 1987. Directed by American filmmaker, Jennifer Fox, the film unfolds a poignant narrative of the lives of the Bustros family, an affluent Christian family living in war-torn Beirut, Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War. Although the family could have presumably traveled anywhere in the world, they chose to stay in their ancestral mansion within Beirut, despite the ongoing war that was ravaging the city. The film bridges the gap between cinema vérité and personal documentary and allows an intimate look into a side of war rarely discussed - everyday lives of those caught in the middle of it.

Often alternating between striking monochrome and vivid color, Fox uses handheld camera work, presenting a raw feel to her portrayal of war-time Beirut. The film goes beyond the common war documentary style as it personalizes the narrative, humanizes the people involved, and ultimately translates the profound impact of war on lives far removed from the frontlines of conflict into cinematic terms.

As the film starts, viewers are introduced to the Bustros clan, led by matriarch Gaby Bustros. The affluent family remains ensconced in their huge 200-year-old mansion filled with antique furnishings and a collection of preserved animals, while the world outside is in chaos. The film explores their day-to-day living amidst violence and uncertainty, maintaining a dignified calm, and a resilient spirit which were often punctuated by sorrow, fear, and some fleeting moments of joy. Apart from the family, there is an ensemble of invaluable staff and their beloved pet dogs, all of whom play key roles in this riveting narrative.

Fox elaborates the story efficiently, periodically offering clips from an earlier, more tranquil time when Beirut was a beautiful, bustling city referred to as the "Paris of the Middle East." Juxtaposing these ephemeral moments of peace against the stark reality of crumbling structures and bullet-ridden walls due to the ongoing war gives viewers an understanding of the drastic transformation this historical city has undergone.

There are heart-wrenching scenes of domestic tranquillity in the midst of conflict, revealing resilient glimpses of humanity and courage in the face of adversity. The film shows the tragic struggle and the Bustros family's adaptation to life amidst war, where even mundane tasks like taking a stroll outside the mansion or buying necessities involve life-threatening risks.

While the movie is about the war, it is also about the family's struggle to hold on tightly to a vanishing aristocratic lifestyle and dignity amidst war's chaos. In fact, the mansion almost serves as a character in its own right, a symbol of lost time and aging grandeur. Its scarred walls and fading grandeur pay silent homage to the once-thriving city that is now slipping into oblivion, while also serving as the family's safe haven from the outside mayhem.

The film also delves deeper into the personal lives of the Bustros family, as Fox candidly interviews them about their thoughts, feelings, and most importantly, their reasons for staying put in a war-ridden city. These interviews elegantly capture a range of raw emotions – from sorrow and longing to remarkable courage to an inexplicable love for their homeland – and make "Beirut: The Last Home Movie" a heartbreaking yet enlightening cinematic tribute to the human spirit under siege.

The soundtrack, gracefully fitted with occasional bursts of gunfire and bomb blasts, features operatic pieces and Beethoven's compositions, the music that the Bustros family often listen to, merging with the sound of looming war. These interludes offer a surreal contrast and further elevate the emotional undercurrents of the narrative.

Beirut: The Last Home Movie offers an intimate, visible, and emotionally stirring depiction of how war affects everyday life and interpersonal dynamics. Hard-hitting and eye-opening in equal measures, Jennifer Fox's brilliant documentary stands out for its authenticity and sheer emotional depth, making it a must-watch for aficionados of war documentaries, as well as those interested in understanding social and familial dynamics amid conflict situations. On a broader outlook, it is a masterful exploration of human resilience, hope, and the enduring love for one's homeland, even amidst war's devastations.