Bosta (2005)

  • Best Scenario Award – Carthage Festival, 2002
  • Murex D’Or – Lebanon
  • Best First Work Award – Arab Film Festival Rotterdam
  • IMA Award for First Feature Film
  • Audience Award – Queens International Festival
  • Young Audience Award – Artemare Festival, Corsica

Bosta (Bus in Arabic) tells the story of seven former schoolmates who meet up again after 15 years, to drive across Lebanese regions in a rundown school bus, which they repaint and renew as a wound they are healing. The group is trying to introduce a new blend of music in their native villages, a mix of the traiditonal dance – the Dabkeh – coupled with a techno beat ; a mix that embodies this generation that grew up too fast. This group of friends tries to bring a modern twist to the past in a world that has lost all bearings. The bus thus takes its passengers across Lebanonm on an emtionaly bumpy journey of self-discovery and re-acquaintance with the multiple identities of their country.

Written, Produced and Directed by Philippe Aractingi. Length : 115’

Cast :

Rodney El haddad – Kamal Maf’ouss
Nadine Labaki – Alia
Nada Abou Farhat – Vola
Liliane Nemri – Arzeh
Omar Rajeh – Omar
Mounir Malaeb – Toufic
Bshara Atallah – Khalil
Raya Meddine – Isabelle
Joelle Rizk – Katia
Mahfouz Barakat – William Maswani
Mahmoud Mabsout – Mr. Naim
Bader Haddad – Alia’s Mother
Youssef Emalhoub – Alia’s Father