47 seconds

A recent Vimeo Staff Pick, this film shows us 47 seconds of helplessness. And of pain. 47 seconds of uncertainty. And of desperation. 47 seconds of loneliness. And of losing hope.

And it’s for a good reason. People, including babies and children, in Lebanese hospitals are dying and suffering because of the lack of electricity and power cuts for 47 years – including today.

This short film symbolizes the Lebanese people’s reality through the story of a father and a daughter over 47 seconds, written for and shot in one straight take.

The daughter is a symbol for Lebanon – with her condition deteriorating progressively, with every electricity cut. The father is a symbol for the Lebanese people, screaming and pleading for help, with every electricity cut – but there is no one who responds.

The environment’s design transports viewers to a typical hospital in the most afflicted parts of Lebanon.

The lights and the colours add to the bleakness of the reality being faced.

The camera movement is slow and tedious – almost haunting.

The lens feels like we are in the 70-80’s (Lebanon today).

This film is important to be seen and shared, because it’s for a cause that’s worth talking about and importantly, getting global support for.

therighttopower.com/

Directed, Ideated and Written by: Tahaab Rais
Production: Publicis Groupe & Prodigious Middle East
Produced by: Bassel Kakish, Sami Saleh
DoP: Aeyaz
Editor: Neda Zag (Cold Cutz)
Grading and Colourist: Karim Mira (LZRD)
Music: Joe Dickinson
Sound Design: Mango Jam Studio
Creative Heads: Karim Kazan, Sebastien Boutebel
Production team: Naji Bechara, Ralph Matar, Myriam Abi Wardeh, Nour Helou
Post Production team: Optix, Nayla Chacra, Thalia Trad, Eddy Farah
1st AD: Remy Haddad
Grip: Bob Touma
Gaffer: Sohail Iftikhar
Focus Puller: Roger