THE PRESIDENT'S VISIT (Official Trailer) from Cyril Aris on Vimeo.

When a small coastal town of fishermen learns about the secret visit of the President of the Republic to its local soap shop, they embark in an everlasting struggle at cleaning up and maintaining the perfect image of their town.

“To truly laugh, you must be able to take your pain, and play with it” – Charlie Chaplin.
It is that bittersweet pain of caring too much for a country we call home that drove the story of The President’s Visit, set in our political deadlock, where the Presidential seat had been vacant for over two years. This absurdity is something you cry at, play with… and eventually laugh at. I find it inherently Lebanese to play with contradictions, so adopting a contrasting tone to the subject matter is truthful to the place and identity. Comedy becomes a self-imposed remedy to make the situation more bearable, while our lives simply pass by. But in this film, the townsfolk eagerly overdress and over-prepare for the coming of The President – for a better future, for a better life. Because this time, change is coming… Maybe tomorrow is, indeed, a better day.

Awarded

2017 NBR Student Grant

 

Type of Project

Narrative, Comedy, Drama

Length

19:02

Program

Columbia University

Producers

Marc Fadel, Valerie Castillo Martinez

Writers

Cyril Aris, Mounia Akl

Editors

Cyril Aris, Mounia Akl

Cinematographer

Joe Saade

Contact

cyril.aris [at] gmail.com
www.cyrilaris.com