Educational Media Reviews Online

In the Shadow of the City is a film that seamlessly blends documentary footage of Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil war into a fictionalized story. Jean Khalil Chamoun’s film follows Rami, a 12-year-old boy, and his family as they flee from their war torn village in Southern Lebanon for the perceived safety of Beirut. The family soon discovers, however, that the turmoil of war has followed them to Beirut. Rami comes of age during the strife. He sees the war’s impact upon his family and friends and watches as the city descends into chaos.

Chamoun’s blending of documentary footage of the civil strife in Lebanon with the fictional story is interesting. The footage shows the destruction brought on by the war and contributes authenticity to Chamoun’s story. Although the war pitted Christian against Muslim factions Chamoun does not clearly identify characters with either group. Nor does he fully explain the involvement of Israeli and other outside forces. He chooses instead to have the viewer see the impact of the fighting through the eyes of Rami. Rami attempts to remain neutral as his friends and neighbors flee the fighting or join up with one faction or another. As Rami moves from adolescence to adulthood he takes to evacuating the injured from the fighting. When his father is kidnapped Rami is drawn into the fighting as well. Chamoun thereby touches upon the emotions involved with the civil war and adds disappeared civilians to the other human rights issues raised by his film.

In the Shadow of the City will be of value to viewers with an interest in civil war in general, and in the civil war that took place in Lebanon in particular. It will be especially valuable to those concerned with the human aspects of war. It does not, however, explain how the war began or what the various factions were fighting for. Although the film suffers from some uneven acting it is recommended to viewers from junior high school to adult and to the libraries that serve them.