Mirath

Came across this movie on netflix. This film dissects a transgenerational problem that, by now, has become a defining factor of eastern mediterranean/ levantine identities: Displacement and its effect on identity. Not only is the theme very relevant to the Lebanon of today, but also the manner with which it treats the topic. To be genuine, eager to discover the past, and full of energy to learn and rebuild the country we dream of!

It really takes a a special type of delusional and borderline abusive director/protagonist/father of three to subject his kids to this war storyline. There are some interesting historical aspects of this rich exiled family. The movie is an off-shoot of his other movie "Under the Bombs" where Philippe Aractingi returns to a Lebanon fresh out of a ceasefire to film, askin to a passerby taking photos of a recent car crash. It was not enough that France evacuated him and family at the taxpayer's cost, he must return to Lebanon days after the ceasefire. And coerce his wife to bring his kids from France where they are safe. And show the kids the horrors of war including bullet shells that he collected as a child hilmself. This man is dangerous.

This "film" is weighed down by an unremarkable premise, a poor structure, cheap green screen sequences, and overall amateur directing -- it's shocking to me that this director has managed to finance his films given the lack of relevance to a contemporary Lebanese or worldwide audience. Mimics the countless Lebanese student films that are made every year, but ultimately results in self-indulgent, schmaltzy storytelling that lacks any soul or sheds light on anything new. A hackneyed approach to low-quality "documentary" films that earn Arab cinema its unfortunate reputation.

If you're interested in how one bourgeois Turkish family ended up in Lebanon, then France, perhaps you'll find it a little interesting. However, considering the tens of millions of Lebanese who have left their homeland, there is absolutely nothing interesting, engaging, or film-worthy about this particular film. There are incredible stories to tell. This simply isn't one of them.

Heritages is an amazing work of art. It embodies all the emotions, exciting and painful, that accompany every Lebanese leaving his country. This work made me tear up and laugh many times during the movie. While I may not be the best judge of cinematic techniques, it is definitely a movie that speaks to all hearts, especially those that left their country. Philip Araktingi made me think about going back to live in Lebanon. He reignited the belief in the Lebanese people and country as one day making it in the world. It reached to every aspect of a Lebanese life throughout its life stages: childhood through adulthood. It speaks to all of us. It is highly recommended if you are Lebanese and like the fact that you are Lebanese.

I very much enjoyed watching Heritages and my rating is based on how much it touched my soul and I could relate to many of the stories. I liked the little highlight on the parallel lives with the director's ancestors. The personal stories told about the Lebanese civil war came across as unbiased and sharing them with his kids was a good idea I thought. I find a large number of the young generation have little knowledge about what went on and the Lebanese history books don't mention this period at all.