Picture from the Facebook page: Stop Cultural Terrorism in Lebanon
Just as we talk about the bans and transgressions that happen with what some people refer to as “pro-Israel” entities, we cannot talk about being fair until we point out similar bans that happen on the other side.
ABC Mall’s management banned Grand Cinemas from showing 33 Days, a new Lebanese movie, starring Carmen Lebbos and Bassem Maghnieh as well as Youssef el Khal. 33 Days, which is a Lebanese-Iranian production about a Hezbollah mission to release Lebanese prisoners in Israeli prisoners during the July 2006 war.
Legally, the owners of ABC Mall have the right to allow or disallow movies from being screened at Grand Cinemas. However one cannot but wonder why they decided to ban this movie from being screened?
The movie’s producer said he does not know if it’s for a political reason. I cannot but think of political reasons for the ban, in which case shame on ABC Mall’s management for not respecting the basic freedom rights. You’re against Hezbollah? Fine. So banning a movie that talks about something Hezbollah makes you feel better? Does it make you feel like you did something worthwhile?
The only thing ABC’s management did with banning 33 Days is to make a fool out of themselves for being xenophobic inside their own country.
If there’s anything ABC’s management should have considered, apart from every logical reason that might come to person’s mind, is that you have more than 1000 Lebanese who died in the July 2006 war (You can read a story of one of the war’s victims here). Most of those 1000 people were innocent people whose only fault was being at the wrong place at the wrong time. We may not agree with their politics, but the least we can do is not ridicule their memory by banning a movie about the cause that led to their death.
What’s sad is that news about Lara Fabian being banned from coming to Lebanon spread like wildfire across the cyberspace. News about the movie’s ban did nothing.
The movie is being screened at other Grand Cinemas theaters in Lebanon.
A Separate State of Mind | A Blog by Elie Fares 
I don’t like Hezbollah but their movie shouldn’t be banned. How different would we be if we banned it?
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Precisely!
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You know what, it’s not bad for them to get a taste of their own medicine.
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And you would be better how?
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’33 days’ is Hezbollah propaganda, why should they support it? If you’ve seen the available clips on YouTube you’ll instantly see that it’s a poor and pathetic attempt by a Palestinian director – Mai Masri – to take the opportunity to promote and incite the same old anti-Israel rubbish. If Lebanon doesn’t want to be attacked by Israel – leave their civilians alone.
It’s a shame you think allowing anything and everything without discernment means you’re free and open minded. Not assisting the propagation of propaganda doesn’t mean ABC is denying your rights. They don’t want lies to breed. Why do you think it’s important they do?
Maybe you should write a blog post about what you think freedom is.
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Hezbollah, whether you like it or not, is a Lebanese party. If it had been illegal to be a Hezbollah member, the party would have been outlawed a long time ago. The reasons it exists today aside, a movie about the July 2006 war doesn’t need to be propaganda. And even if it is, I highly doubt those that will watch the movie and are anti-Hezbollah will be convinced to devote themselves entirely to the party. And those that are pro-Hezbollah will go to the movie because of the content.
In my opinion, Beirut Hotel is a cheap movie. It’s useless. It doesn’t mean it should be banned. A movie not reaching a level of quality doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to watch it.
Not everything needs to be allowed but banning a movie for the sake of just banning it is, for lack of better words, downright silly. What is freedom? It’s not banning a Lebanese movie because it talks about something you don’t approve. It’s allowing that movie and giving people the chance to be critical.
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“a movie about the July 2006 war doesn’t need to be propaganda” – But it is propaganda. Don’t get caught up in wishy washy wishful thinking. This is Lebanon.
What makes you think they’re banning the movie for the sake of it? Your assumption is silly.
This is Lebanon – you know why they banned it, you know their ideology and you know their political persuasion.
It’s director is Palestinian and it was funded by Iranian money. What makes you think it’s a Lebanese movie?
It’s weird you find peace accepting the fact a terrorist group is legally recognised as a political party by the Lebanese government.
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There’s nothing wrong with a movie supporting something. You don’t agree with what that is, simply don’t watch it.
There are countless movies that serve as propaganda and we don’t get up in a fit about them. Why should we do so regarding this one?
They are banning the movie for the sake of it because you can actually watch the movie elsewhere. Has the movie been edited to be shown in Saida or the North in Las Salinas for example? Or are the people in Saida and the North pro-Hezbollah? (Obviously not).
This is Lebanon. Hezbollah seeks to ban out movies they think doesn’t suit them – and I write about that bashing them. But when their own movies receive the same treatment, it would be hypocritical of me not to talk about it. The whole “eye for an eye” thing doesn’t work for me in this situation.
Where Do We Go Now was a French-Egyptian-Italian production. It’s still a Lebanese movie. Just saying.
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I respect your desire to be fair.
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Thank you.
And for the record, I’m anti-Hezbollah. You might want to check out my other posts about them.
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I respect ur fairness… And whoever says its a propaganda. Banning it is not a solution, its a shame.. I lived the pain , i saw relatives die infront of my eyes.. It hurts me that some lebanese cannot acknowledge/ if not share this pain.
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‘One person’s terrorist is another person’s freedom fighter’ It is really sad how most people, especially Americans are utterly brainwashed by mainstream media.
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I like Hezbollah and how they defeated the sionist aggressors in that war!
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Paul, as opposed to Middle Easterners who are brainwashed by their local imams?
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