Martyr

I'm giving "Martyr" three stars: for everyone who was able to crawl their way through this tortoise of an arthouse film. You deserve the stars just for getting to the end! The photography is possibly the best part, though it unexplainably records quite a few scenes in slow-est motion. I wanted to root for the director as I usually do, but I can't be enthusiastic about the way this film seems to promise it will get better, but doesn't.The characters are mostly a group of young men, all friends to some degree, living in Beirut. One of them drowns. I can't help but wonder if that part of the world even knows about resucitation, as the feeble attempt, with dozens looking on, lasted thirty seconds, if that. But that's just my picky self having the time to be able to think about it because there was little else to think about. While the film is in progress.At least fifteen minutes of slow-moving "when will this scene end" film could have been cut, and perhaps there would have been some kind of pace. The sub-titled dialogue is mercifully short, but fails to do its job and engage the viewer. So, if you like slow-paced films because you're certain they all have a deep, cerebral meaning, take a look at "Martyr". But maybe that's the point: it takes a true die-hard martyr to see this film to the end. I guess the joke's on us.

"Martyr" (Lebanon 2018) An artistically beautiful film about death. The basic plot is simple: a young man dies in a diving "accident" (?) while at the seaside with his friends. His friends and family are then shown dealing with his death and participating in pre-burial rituals.How is it artistic? It starts with the opening scene's appreciation of the beauty of the human body. It continues with creative lighting, filtering, and camera angles. At a most unexpected spot it inserts an interpretive dance scene that is quite moving. And throughout it flows back and forth between states of dreaminess and stark reality.How is it beautiful? It really honors and celebrates the respect the Arabic community extends to it's dead. The tenderness and love exhibited during the ceremonial washing process was indeed beautiful.This is a film that is intentionally vague. It relies on the interpretation of the viewer to realize a deeper meaning. Many of the details of the back story are not addressed and most of the relationships between the characters are not fully explained. I can imagine that 5 people could watch this film and walk away with 5 different explanations of what they saw. A very worthwhile film experience!

This is a very interesting movie in that it shows aspects of life in Beirut that one can only see if one lives there for an extended time. And also because it shows the tensions that youth live there, between unemployment, forced living with parents, the uneasy coexistence between the attractions of ordinary modern life and those of a life devoted to a return to religious principles. There is a lot of homoeroticism and some male nudity of the sort that you wouldn’t see in Hollywood movies. But although one is led to constantly question the relationships that the young male characters of the movie have to each other (even after allowing room for the sort of ambiguous physicality typical of Middle Eastern men), there is no concrete reference to homosexuality.Some parts of the movie are made like a theater performance, often with a chorus, reminiscent of Greek tragedies.Overall, this is a good movie to watch, though it has no uplifting moments nor sense of hope.

Well done. It brings you into the muslim arab world concerning of what takes place after the death and the preparation for the burial of a friend. Rather sad, and well acted

A desperate youngh man, stiffled by cultural, and religous shakles, finds his only answer the best way he can see. The whole scenes of water from his dreaming and shower are a precurser to what he sees as his only way to face his salvation.His death, by hid own device, leads to his myrterdom, religous salvation and family honor.Some say that t'here are over long scenes. It may seem that way to slme, but in US culture we have negated death, and turned the final care over to others. We have removed ourselves from the heath wrenching of trying to save the life of a loved one and the post mortum care and love shown by family and friends to the departed. Instead we leave it to paid care giver. No Love lost for the dead.Here we are shown the love, tenderness, and care the dead deserve.Cudos to t'he writer, director, and the actors for showing the love and respect that every one of our brothers and family deserve when death takes them.Last Words. Ever living person who has lost a loved one, be it family, unexpressed love one or even someone we hardly knew, should watch this carefully. Maybe then, they will understand the all encompassing love expressed in this film

No spoilers here: this film is slow paced and artsy. Male homo-erotic but not LGBTQ. If you are in a mellow mood and interested in learning about parts of another culture, watch it. If you like fast-paced American films, this is not for you.

Amazingly good movie about a group of young men bonded together physically and spiritually. It brings forward the question of how can this kind of bond be depicted on screen. It also brings forward the question of how one man who dies can be a martyr. Several of the characters in fact discuss this briefly. But the real answer is in his circumstances. He seems to be martyred by the whole set of conditions that dragged his life down. This is the rare film that can be watched multiple times.

Very moved by the ritual of death in Lebanon. Didn't really think of this as a Gay film. I suppose one could label it Gay, but I thought it was universal, not relating to one particular sect of society. It affirms that family and friends are forever, regardless of sexual preference. I found it enlightening, hoping that all of us could ban together and live together in peace. Very emotional film.

This film is a bit disjointed. It starts with the main character, Hassane, being given a hard time by his parents about getting a job. He decides to look tomorrow and spend today on Beirut's rocky shore where he and his friends jump of rocks into the water as well as discuss life, loves and everything. Hassane makes a dangerous jump with tragic results.From here the film focuses on how the dead are washed and treated in their home and his family and friends talking about his and their own lives.It could have been a good film but it is slow and sometimes a bit confusing. If you watch it, lower your expectations.

very odd

Trama essenziale, ma non si riesce a staccare gli occhi dallo schermo.Semplicemente bello, ottima regia.

Une (très) courte tranche de vie au Liban. Un jeune garçon remplit une existence peine de vide et d'interrogation en passant ses journées en bord de mer. Il se noie sous les yeux de ses amis. Ils le ramènent chez ses parents. Commence alors le rituel du lavage du corps avant la cérémonie funèbre. Tout est intensément réel, beau et lancinant. Fascinant de beauté, de sobriété.