West Beirut (1998): cast, story & where to watch
1998 · Film · ★ 7.2
Released in 1998, West Beirut is a comedy, drama and romance film directed by Ziad Doueiri, running about 105 minutes.
What it’s about. In April, 1975, civil war breaks out; Beirut is partitioned along a Moslem-Christian line. Tarek is in high school, making Super 8 movies with his friend, Omar. At first the war is a lark: school has closed, the violence is fascinating, getting from West to East is a game. His mother wants to leave; his father refuses. Tarek spends time with May, a Christian, orphaned and living in his building. By accident, Tarek goes to an infamous brothel in the war-torn Olive Quarter, meeting its legendary madam, Oum Walid. He then takes Omar and May there using her underwear as a white flag for safe passage. Family tensions rise. As he comes of age, the war moves inexorably from adventure to tragedy.
Who’s in it. West Beirut stars Rami Doueiri as Tarek Noueri, Naamar Sahli, Mohamad Chamas as Omar and Rola Al Amin as May, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.2/10, West Beirut has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch West Beirut page.
If you liked it. Fans of West Beirut tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch West Beirut (1998)?
- In US, West Beirut is available to rent or buy from Apple TV Store. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is West Beirut worth watching?
- West Beirut holds an audience score of 7.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, drama and romance. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in West Beirut?
- West Beirut stars Rami Doueiri, Naamar Sahli, Mohamad Chamas, Rola Al Amin and Carmen Lebbos.
- When was West Beirut released?
- West Beirut was released in 1998, with a runtime of about 105 minutes.