Cinema is not only about making people dream. It's about changing things and making people think.
Religion is a very delicate subject in Lebanon. You have to know how to say things in a very delicate way in order to be accepted.
Beirut turned into a war zone in a matter of hours. We were stuck at home, the roads were blocked.
I believe everybody can make a change in the world.
When I was a kid, I used to spend a lot of time at home because of the war. We couldn't go out and play or go to school. Boredom was a big part of my life.
Making movies is what I'm good at. Cinema is the means through which I can best express myself.
Self-censorship has become a part of me. I think because we live in a place where community is very important, family is very important, you feel the weight of how people look at you. Even though I might seem very modern and very liberated, I still have a lot of issues to deal with. I'm scared of how people look at me.
I'm just someone who observes a lot.
I don't like to be feared, and I can't work in conflict, I'm very bad with conflict. I try to avoid it, it paralyzes me.
I like to have the impression that whatever is happening is true.
I am a woman. I definitely have a woman's perspective. I'm also a mother, and I think, because of that, I feel responsible to try and make a difference.
When you show people on the big screen that could be our next-door neighbour or our cousin, it does have an impact on our lives.
Films can make you dream. They allow you to imagine a different world. It's why I decided to become a filmmaker. I wanted that even though it seemed impossible.
I thought if my son was now eighteen years old and he was tempted to join the fight and take the burden of protecting his family - because it's always tempting especially for young men - what would I do as a mother to stop him?
I was watching TV and saw people with masks, weapons, and grenades. I thought, Is that really possible? Could we be here yet again? And go into civil war one more time?
A small film from a small country, in Arabic with nonprofessionals: It was practically impossible. Just to make it was like a dream to me.
I want to keep talking about my people and my country in my own language.
When people say to me, 'You make us proud,' it's heartwarming to hear that.
I've never felt that my job was difficult because I'm a woman. It's a difficult job regardless, and it's even more difficult in Lebanon because there's no film industry. There's no structure, funding, or institutions for filmmakers.
I was lucky because I used to live right next to a video-rental store. I used to spend so much time watching films. So I've seen a lot. I used to watch 'Dynasty' and 'Dallas' and have seen every kind of film. I've been influenced by everything I've seen.
