“Manara” began from a deep-rooted frustration and angst with a culture that is obsessed with appearances. An older generation who is willing to risk their well being and the well being of their children as long as they remain intact in the eyes of their immediate community, family, and the country as a whole.

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With that in mind, we chose to tell a story about a family in conservative Southern Lebanon who has just been dealt a “scandal”, which, if exposed, might stain them for the rest of their lives. How far is this family going to go to protect their secret? At the center is a woman who strives to remain dignified and put together in front of the world. She’s engrossed in her image to the detriment of her family. She has decided that living in dysfunction and keeping things bottled up is healthier for her and her family than going public with her secret.

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Manara means lighthouse. A lighthouse is a steady and grounded structure that leads people to safety and away from danger, risk, and adversity. A lighthouse symbolizes the way forward and helps in navigating our way through rough waters. What happens when that light is extinguished? How then do we move from adversity?