Two Cities tells the story of Beirut’s Al-Madina Theatre as it fights to make change and meaning in a country slipping deeper into political turmoil and societal collapse. Shot over a two-year period when Lebanon had a vacant presidency and the garbage crisis was at its peak, the film is an intimate portrait of the actors, writers, directors and technicians who make up Al-Madina’s artistic family and are united by mutual respect and creative passion.

Head of the family is Nidal Ashkar, the legendary actress and director who founded the theatre and has run it for over 20 years. Her vision and perseverance have survived countless assaults but have never wavered.

It is 2016, and the Al-Madina theatre is preparing to celebrate its 20th anniversary with over a dozen original plays and musical acts. Opening night is only two weeks away, and Nidal is juggling the demands of multiple productions as well as her own debut as a singer. Meanwhile, her husband, Fouad Naim, is directing a production of Eugene Ionesco's Exit The King, rich in parallels to the state of the nation. As opening night looms ever closer, can art survive under these conditions? Can it make a difference?

In parallel, the film presents a portrait of Beirut itself, ruled by corruption, merciless to the most vulnerable, and spiraling closer and closer to the abyss. Show less