ACCREDITATION FOR THE 7TH EDITION IS NOW OPEN 

WE ARE INSIDE

( 2024 )
Feature Documentary Competition |
 
Lebanon
,
Qatar
,
Denmark
 |
 Arabic |
 177 min

About the film

After a 15-year absence, Farah returns to Lebanon to live with her ageing father. They try to find a common language to have one last conversation. Poetry will turn out to be the only one her father understands.

Director

Farah Kassem

Born in Tripoli, Lebanon, Farah Kassem earned a BA in Audio Visual Studies from Alba University and an MFA in documentary filmmaking from DocNomads. Currently pursuing doctoral research in the Arts at KU Leuven and LUCA, she has directed several acclaimed and award-winning shorts, including  My Father Looks Like Abdel Nasser (2012), Nettoyer Schaerbeek (2017), and You Make a Better Window Than You Do a Door (2017). Her films have screened at festivals like Visions du Réel and DOK Leipzig. We Are Inside (2024), her feature debut, won a Special Mention at Visions du Réel and the Golden Apricot for best film in Regional Panorama at the Yerevan International Film Festival.

Producer

Cynthia Choucair, Farah Kassem, Patricia Drati, Jamal Dalali, Mehdi Bekkar

Production Company

Screenplay

Farah Kassem

Cinematography

Tebbe Schöningh

Editing

Anders Jepsen

Sound

Joelle Abou Chabke

Cast

Featuring: Farah Kassem, Mustapha Kassem

Contacts

International Sales: Road 2 Films, Lebanon, info@road2films.com

Producer

Cynthia Choucair, Farah Kassem, Patricia Drati, Jamal Dalali, Mehdi Bekkar

Production Company

Screenplay

Farah Kassem

Cinematography

Tebbe Schöningh

Editing

Anders Jepsen

Sound

Joelle Abou Chabke

Cast

Featuring: Farah Kassem, Mustapha Kassem

Contacts

International Sales: Road 2 Films, Lebanon, info@road2films.com

More About Film

In We Are Inside, filmmaker Farah Kassem delivers a deeply personal and resonant documentary that takes viewers on an emotional journey into the heart of her homeland, Lebanon, and the intimate bond between her and her aging father. Set in the city of Tripoli amidst political upheaval, the film follows Farah’s return home after years away, only to find her father, Mustapha—a proud poet in his 80s—grappling with the decline of his health and the rapid changes reshaping their country. As Kassem puts it, “Making the film was a perfect way to spend more time with my father, to do something together, and through the process, keep him alive, as long as possible.”What makes this story especially touching is the unique bridge that the two characters build through Mustapha’s all-male poetry club. This warm group of elderly men gathers weekly to share their verses and thoughts on life, seemingly indifferent to the chaos unfolding outside. Their conversations, filled with both humour and poignancy, create a space where poetry becomes the key to reconnecting with her father. By joining the club, Farah unlocks the door to deeper communication with Mustapha, allowing them to engage in what may be their final, most meaningful conversation. Visually, Kassem captures this intimate world with tender care. The confined setting of her father’s flat, with windows that offer a glimpse of the outside world, mirrors the emotional isolation felt within. This contrast between their private, poetic world and the volatile political landscape outside resonates with universal themes of connection and disconnection. We are Inside  is a meditative experience that rewards patience, offering deep insights into love, memory, and resilience. Audiences will find this film a moving and universal exploration of human bonds, a heartfelt tribute to the ties that shape us, making it a must-see for those who appreciate emotionally rich storytelling.Raman Chawla

Producer

Cynthia Choucair, Farah Kassem, Patricia Drati, Jamal Dalali, Mehdi Bekkar

Screenplay

Farah Kassem

Cinematography

Tebbe Schöningh

Editing

Anders Jepsen

Sound

Joelle Abou Chabke

Cast

Featuring: Farah Kassem, Mustapha Kassem

Contact

International Sales: Road 2 Films, Lebanon, info@road2films.com

More About Film

In We Are Inside, filmmaker Farah Kassem delivers a deeply personal and resonant documentary that takes viewers on an emotional journey into the heart of her homeland, Lebanon, and the intimate bond between her and her aging father. Set in the city of Tripoli amidst political upheaval, the film follows Farah’s return home after years away, only to find her father, Mustapha—a proud poet in his 80s—grappling with the decline of his health and the rapid changes reshaping their country. As Kassem puts it, “Making the film was a perfect way to spend more time with my father, to do something together, and through the process, keep him alive, as long as possible.”What makes this story especially touching is the unique bridge that the two characters build through Mustapha’s all-male poetry club. This warm group of elderly men gathers weekly to share their verses and thoughts on life, seemingly indifferent to the chaos unfolding outside. Their conversations, filled with both humour and poignancy, create a space where poetry becomes the key to reconnecting with her father. By joining the club, Farah unlocks the door to deeper communication with Mustapha, allowing them to engage in what may be their final, most meaningful conversation. Visually, Kassem captures this intimate world with tender care. The confined setting of her father’s flat, with windows that offer a glimpse of the outside world, mirrors the emotional isolation felt within. This contrast between their private, poetic world and the volatile political landscape outside resonates with universal themes of connection and disconnection. We are Inside  is a meditative experience that rewards patience, offering deep insights into love, memory, and resilience. Audiences will find this film a moving and universal exploration of human bonds, a heartfelt tribute to the ties that shape us, making it a must-see for those who appreciate emotionally rich storytelling.Raman Chawla