Egyptian director Yousef Shahin is the only Arab participant in the French production in which ten world directors are shooting short narrative films about September 11 attacks. In each film (11 minutes) the director presents his vision about the event and how it has affected his society.
“We won’t enter in a contest for best film but rather in a big challenge that puts a viewpoint opposite another one. I have a big responsibility for conveying the Arab point of view being only Arab director among the other directors,” Shahin told the daily al Hayat.
Shahin included his character in the film, which will be played by Noor al Sherif as Joe. With this Shahin appears as if he wants to convey the more honest and clearer feelings, which an average Arab lives. This is particularly in view of the health problems, which Shahin faced due to his participation in the anti Israeli terrorist actions demonstrations.
The message will not be presented by the character of the director alone but the director will also take one of the marine soldiers who were killed in Beirut in 1982, about 280, on a journey to see the daily life of an Arab martyr. He will explain to the marine why an Arab devotes his life and dies as martyr and why this martyr blows himself. He acts as if accompanies all Americans and explain to them all the details, which every Arab hopes to convey to the world public opinion and the western world, in particular. Will there be any body who can understand the truth after seeing the film?
It is certain that the blonde marine soldier, played by Ahmed Haroun, will understand the Arabs’ stance as Shahin will urge him to confess that Americans did not hear or see the Arab truth before.
According to Shahin, he selected the Lebanese City of Jubail for shooting some scenes due to its charm and fantasy, which encompass the film’s story. He also selected Dubai to shoot the sky scrapers which resemble the former world trade center which was destroyed in the September 11 attacks in New York in order to affirm to the world that Dubai looks like New York, as his assistant Khaled Yousef indicated.
The director will not refer to the collapse of the twin towers but rather to screenshots that depict the long running American and Israeli terror. These shots will prove that the biggest number of terror victims over the past 100 years has been due to Americans. This view will be bolstered by the role of the Lebanese journalist, role played by Evelyn Bitar -- Albawaba.com
