Beirut's Wounds: A Filmmaker's Existential Journey

Irene Bartolomé's debut feature film, "Dream of Another Summer," delves into the essence of Beirut, a city that has endured significant destruction. The film captures the profound impact of the August 2020 explosion, reframing damaged buildings as reflections of human scars and the deep relationship between people and their surroundings. Bartolomé, who has lived in Beirut for six years, uses the city as a canvas to explore themes of absence and presence.

The narrative follows Alicia, a character who serves as an alter ego and a mediator for the audience's experience of Beirut. Alicia's journey is marked by an obsession with the severely damaged grain silos by the port. Through voice messages and eerie 3D renderings, the film visualizes the precarious state of these structures, highlighting the fragility of the urban landscape and the need to understand its precariousness.

Bartolomé, drawn to Beirut's unique character, describes the city as having a gravitational pull on her. Her prior works also focused on urban environments, underscoring her interest in spaces over individuals. The film's unique narrative was constructed with editor Sandra Fatté, weaving together diverse footage and elements to create a coherent and evocative cinematic experience that portrays Beirut's capacity for survival and transformation.