To Close Your Eyes And See Fire

In the aftermath of the Beirut explosion, the city faces the challenge of healing while new crises inflict further wounds. Who will leave the country and at what cost?

September 5, 2025

1h 38m

Documentary

Overview

Beirut lies in ruins. After the explosion in the city's port, collective trauma rises to the surface. How can life succeed after such a tragedy? The film carefully observes the following three years and zooms in on the lives of Aya - a Syrian refugee girl, Selim - an activist and painter, the Aladdin family - mourning a tragic loss, Yasmin - picking up calls at a suicide prevention hotline, and Andrea - who still believes in the city's spark for change. Meanwhile, a smoldering fire keeps on lingering in the port’s silos like a cautionary tale. Is it time to leave?

Directed by

Jakob Carl Sauer, Nicola von Leffern