“I Want to See,” featured in the Un Certain Regard category, stands as a distinctive endeavor by directors Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige. This selection, “I Want to See,” was a unique creation by the directors that emerged during the onset of the 2006 Lebanese war, as they questioned cinema’s power to enact change. They ventured to Beirut with Catherine Deneuve, an actress they regard as a cinematic icon, to explore the war-afflicted areas and attempt to rekindle the lost splendor of yesteryears with their combined presence.

Contemplating the nature of “I Want to See,” directors Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige muse over its classification as a documentary or a narrative film. The distinction blurs in this work. With a deep familiarity of the locations, the directors drew from their personal experiences for the protagonists’ journey in the script. The actors embarked on this journey unaware of the outcomes or destinations, encountering real-life situations previously experienced by the directors. This unpredictability and the incorporation of unforeseen events are characteristic of their method, which involves embracing reality as it unfolds unexpectedly within a scene. During the shoot, this approach was amplified, culminating in a truly extraordinary cinematic experience.

Regarding Catherine Deneuve, the directors express their eagerness to capture her on film. Deneuve represents a certain notion of cinema, one steeped in history and intellect. She possesses an aptitude for maintaining a nuanced distance, and her filmography reflects a distinct intellectual pursuit. Deneuve transcends the status of an icon; she is the epitome of independence. Her freedom, approachability, and responsiveness became increasingly evident throughout the collaboration. Despite potential risks to her reputation or personal safety, she embraced the project without hesitation. Deneuve’s presence infuses the film with an ethereal quality, an unlikely vision amidst the rubble and vistas of southern Lebanon. She personifies fiction, embodying the concept defined by Walter Benjamin as ‘the manifestation of a distance, so near it can almost be touched.’

At the screening, Khalil Joreige greeted the audience, expressing the significance of presenting “I Want to See” at the festival. He extended gratitude to Thierry Frémaux, the festival team, and especially to Catherine Deneuve for her courage and magnanimity, which were pivotal in bringing the film to life. Joana Hadjithomas offered her dedication of the screening to the absent colleagues, family, and friends, who were unable to attend due to recent circumstances.

STORY LINE: July 2006. A war breaks out in Lebanon. A war that crushes the hopes of peace and the momentum of a whole generation. We no longer know what to write, what stories to recount, what images to show. We ask ourselves: what can cinema do? That question, we decide to translate it into reality. We go to Beirut with an icon, an actress who, to us, symbolises cinema, Catherine Deneuve. She will meet our close friend, the artist and performer Rabih Mroué. Together, they will drive through the regions devastated by the conflict. It is the beginning of an unpredictable, unexpected adventure.

CAST AND CREW: Lebanon / France – 2008 – color Nadim AsfarDURATION75 minutesFORMAT35mm 2.35 Dolby SRACTORSCatherine Deneuve Rabih MrouéDIRECTORSJoana Hadjithomas et Khalil JoreigeIMAGESJulien HirschSOUNDGuillaume Le Braz Sylvain Malbrant Emmanuel CrosetEDITINGEnrica GatoliniEDITING CONSULTORTina Baz LegalASSISTANTS DIRECTORSWael Deeb Emile SleilatySCRIPTZeina Saab de MeleroPRODUCTION COORDINATORMarianne KatraMAKE UPMina MalsumuraHAIRDRESSERJean-Jacques Puchu-LapeyradeCOSTUME DRESSERNadine FenianosSTILL PHOTOPatrick SwircMUSICScrambled Eggs – Joseph Ghosn /DisciplinePRODUCED BYEdouard Mauriat Anne-Cécile Berthomeau Farès Ladjimi (Mille et une productions – France) Georges Schoucair (Abbout productions – Lebanon) Tony ArnouxIN ASSOCIATION WITHCOFICUP 2 – un fonds BACKUP FILMSWITH THE SUPPORT OFCentre National de la Cinématographie Hubert Bals Fund – International Film Festival Rotterdam Banque Libano-Française CMA-CGMWITH THE PARTICIPATION OFAbbas Jaber Edmond Asseily and Ziad Abdelnour Fondation Groupama Gan pour le cinéma