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After losing her job in Lebanon’s economic collapse, Lama develops anxiety-induced hearing loss and flees Beirut for her childhood village, where she and Jamil join villagers who believe a new ATM has swallowed their last remaining money.
Lama loses her job amid Lebanon's economic crisis. As her anxiety and panic attacks worsen, she gradually loses her hearing. Outside of home, she faces absurd situations: at the bank, someone tries to set themselves on fire; there are panic attacks in the hospital, fuel-less ambulances and fluctuating supermarket prices. The doctor attributes her hearing loss to anxiety, prescribing rest. Seeking relief, Lama flees to her serene village, where her hearing returns. This peace is disrupted by the sudden arrival of an ATM machine installed by the landowner to avoid paying villagers' salaries in cash. The villagers find the machine empty. Lama meets Jamil, a naive young man who urges her to go with him to the city bank to resolve their blocked salaries. In Beirut, chaos erupts again with fights over gasoline. Lama's ears ring again as a humiliated Jamil is ejected from the bank. Back in the village, Jamil starts a protest by blocking roads. The village descends into madness: Jamil kidnaps the ATM, and the police attack the villagers. Lama returns to Beirut, facing more chaos. Finally, she goes back to the hospital, lies on a bed, and as the power cuts, the doctors silently vanish, leaving her alone.

Credits

Director
Ahmad Ghossein
Screenwriter
Ahmad Ghossein
Producer
Georges Schoucair
Production Company
Abbout Productions

About the Director

Ahmad Ghossein
Ahmad Ghossein is a filmmaker and artist. His feature film debut, 'All This Victory' (2019), won the Grand Prize and the Audience Award at the Venice International Film Critics' Week. His short film 'White Noise', produced under Fondation Liban Cinema's Lebanon Factory initiative, opened Directors' Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival (La Quinzaine des Réalisateurs – Cannes) in 2017. His video wo