‘Dancing on the Edge of a Volcano’ Director Slams Lebanese Political ‘Mafia’: ‘If They Censor It, Thanks for the Publicity’

variety.com:

Marta Balaga Cyril Aris and his frustrated protagonists in “Dancing on the Edge of a Volcano” are done mincing words. “I hope this film can be screened the way it is, although it’s not painting the brightest picture of the Lebanese political class.

And if they censor it, thank you for the publicity. I will take it,” he says following its premiere at Karlovy Vary Film Festival. “In Lebanon, we have leaders who are experts in divide-and-conquer.

That’s how they fire up their base and that’s what happened in the port of Beirut, too. There is this theory that everyone knew what was happening, but they were paid for their silence.” In his documentary, produced by Reynard Films and Abbout Productions, Aris explores the aftermath of the “traumatic” 2020 explosion. “Everyone thought it happened on their street,” he recalls.

But he also follows the many misadventures of the team behind Nadine Labaki’s starrer “Costa Brava, Lebanon.” Deciding to keep on working despite the tragedy that paralizes the set, the pandemic, electricity shortages and dreadful weather conditions. “It was very important not to do another ‘making of,’” he states, although his film has already drawn comparisons to “Lost in La Mancha,” about Terry Gilliam’s first attempt to make “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote” or 1991’s “Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse.” “Through their obstacles, I could talk about the economic crisis, about the mismanagement of state services.