Film Movement announces that UNDER THE BOMBS, about an expatriate returning to her native Lebanon in search of her son during the 2006 war, will be available on DVD beginning Tuesday, May 5th, 2009. All Film Movement releases include a short film—this month’s selection is Porn, from Poland. The DVDs will be available at Film Movement (www.filmmovement.com), and also through major retailers such as Blockbuster, Amazon, Netflix and at Passion River Films (www.passionriver.com).
Synopsis of UNDER THE BOMBS: During a cease-fire in the Lebanon-Israel conflict of 2006, a Christian taxi driver brings an untraditional Shiite woman from Beirut to the heart of the conflict in the country’s south. While they scour the rubble of local towns looking for her son, who was sent to live with her traditional family while she was staying with her husband in Dubai, they discover that despite their very different backgrounds they have much in common. And during their trip through the desolate countryside, the two travelers develop a deep bond as a response to the death striking all around them. The film was shot entirely on location during the summer of 2006, in the middle of the ruins of war-torn Lebanon. Aractingi only hired two professional actors, the rest are real refugees, journalists, soldiers, etc…, playing themselves. UNDER THE BOMBS was directed by Beruit and Paris-based filmmaker Philippe Aractingi, and has a running time of 98 minutes.
Acclaim for UNDER THE BOMBS:
WINNER – Altre Visioni and Human Rights Film Award, Venice Int’l FF
WINNER – Golden Pony Award, Best Actress Dubai Int’l FF
WINNER – The Critics Award, Eurasia FF
WINNER – Grand Jury Prize, Namur Int’l Francophone FF
NOMINATED – Grand Jury Prize World Cinema, Sundance FF
Official Selection – Seattle Int’l FF, Stockholm Int’l FF, Amiens Int’l FF, Human Rights Watch FF, Palm Springs Int’l FF