Tim Townsend

Subtitles ..NO WAY were we going to watch this film BUT so glad we did. Where to start.....the shabby streets of Beirut's slums , poverty desperation .How to keep a roof over your head....yes sell your pre teen daughter to your land lord, her loving young brother Zain disgusted with his parents leaves to go on a fascinating journey (adventure) through the rough though picturesque streets is befriended by a beautiful refugee with a baby ( what a star that that baby is .......some of the best scenes ,& funniest are the two boys struggles to feed themselves, begging , stealing yes...surviving .......Zain a tiny underfed but gutsy soul ends up in prison having stabbed the cruel landlord ( his "wife" sold by Zain's parents dies in pregnancy) ......but the film's final scene shows a smiling young boy(our hero) having his photograph taken to leave ,maybe to Sweden to escape the poverty of war torn Lebanon .......I went to Beirut in 1960.It was a beautiful city then ( the Nice of the Levant) NOW it is a scene of devastation but will be rebuilt by the brave racially mixed society........someday ?