The Enchanting Legends and Untold Secrets of Notre-Dame de Paris
Bélinda Ibrahim 24/12 10:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Notre-Dame Culture Paris Heritage
Notre-Dame de Paris, an iconic masterpiece of Gothic architecture, is filled with legends, mysteries and fascinating anecdotes. Let's delve into some of the most captivating secrets of this emblematic cathedral, each reflecting the richness of its past. The Mystery of the Devilish Doors One of the most intriguing legends of Notre-Dame involves ...
Sursock Museum Reopens Its Doors, Lamia Abillama Unveils History
Bélinda Ibrahim 19/12 14:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Museum Lebanon Culture Exhibition Book
After two months of closure during the recent war in Lebanon, the Sursock Museum is reopening its doors to the public this Friday, December 20. A festive day packed with events awaits visitors to celebrate the long-anticipated return of this iconic cultural institution. “Having been greatly weakened by the August 4, 2020 explosion at the Beirut ...
'Last Tango in Paris' and Maria Schneider’s Tragic Fate
Bélinda Ibrahim 18/12 16:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Actress Cinema Culture Woman Violence
The Last Tango in Paris was born from a fantasy by Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci. He had imagined meeting a stranger on the street and having a sexual encounter with her, without ever knowing her identity. This idea became the foundation of the script he developed with his friend Franco Arcalli. Initially, Dominique Sanda was cast in the ...
Zakir Hussain: The Tabla Maestro Who United the World
Bélinda Ibrahim 17/12 10:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Zakir Hussain, the undisputed master of the tabla, made his mark in the history of music by building bridges between the East and the West. Born on March 9, 1951, in Mumbai into a family of musicians, he was the son of the renowned Alla Rakha and was destined for an exceptional career. A true child prodigy, he gave his first public concert at the ...
Sarah Jessica Parker: The Journey of a Truly Unconventional Star
Bélinda Ibrahim 13/12 18:35 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
New York Manhattan Actress Fashion Icon Movie
A true tour de force both on and off the screen, Sarah Jessica Parker has never failed to astonish and captivate. Her role as a juror within the prestigious Booker Prize 2025 provides the perfect opportunity to revisit the extraordinary journey of this actress, producer and entrepreneur who has shaped an entire generation. From her early ...
Notre-Dame de Paris: The Organ’s Rebirth
Bélinda Ibrahim 08/12 18:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
Paris Notre-Dame de Paris France
How can one condense five years of relentless dedication, sacrifice, and hope into words? The profound emotions of this moment, the sight of a scarred yet triumphant cathedral, and the collective awe of those present transcend the limits of language. Some milestones defy articulation; they must be felt, shared, and celebrated. The rebirth of ...
USJ Choir's Mass in Blue: A Defiant Stand Against War
Bélinda Ibrahim 07/12 14:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Concert USJ Yasmina Sabbah Lebanon Choir
In these troubled times, as Lebanon faces one of the darkest periods in its recent history, a beacon of hope shines in the heart of Beirut. The University of Saint Joseph Choir, under the direction of Yasmina Sabbah, is set to present its annual Christmas concert on December 18 and 19, 2024, at Saint Joseph Church in Monnot. This year's event ...
Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus: A Common Origin?
Bélinda Ibrahim 06/12 16:40 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Santa Claus Saint Nicholas Tradition Culture Christmas
The legend of Saint Nicholas dates back to the fourth century in Lycia, an area in present-day Turkey. Born in 270 in Patara to a wealthy, devout Christian family, Nicholas inherited a great fortune upon the death of his parents and chose to give it to the poor. Nicholas became the Bishop of Myra at a young age and is believed to have ...
Magritte and the Poetic Enigma of 'The Empire of Light'
Bélinda Ibrahim 26/11 10:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
New York Auction Magritte Painting
The Empire of Light by René Magritte undoubtedly ranks among the most fascinating pictorial series of the 20th century. An emblem of the singular artistic approach of the Belgian surrealist master, it embodies his relentless quest to challenge our certainties about reality and its representation. Created over three decades, from 1940 to 1960, the ...
Boualem Sansal's Arrest: Literary Giants Unite Against Algerian Oppression
Bélinda Ibrahim 24/11 10:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
France Algeria Literature Writer Culture
The arrest of Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal upon his arrival at Algiers airport on November 16 has sparked outrage across the literary world and beyond. At 75 years old, this committed intellectual, who became a French citizen in 2024, is known for his courageous stance against Islamism and totalitarianism. His detention by Algerian ...
Philippe Aractingi Awarded for 'Liban, les Secrets du Royaume de Byblos'
Bélinda Ibrahim 19/11 18:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Lebanese cinema takes center stage once again with the remarkable achievement of Philippe Aractingi, a French-Lebanese director and producer, who recently won the prestigious Grand Jury Prize at the 24th Bidassoa Archaeological Film Festival (FICAB) in Spain. His film, Liban, les secrets du royaume de Byblos, filmed over two years in 2022 and ...
Zeina Nader’s Abstract Art Shines Once Again in Italy
Bélinda Ibrahim 14/11 18:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Exhibition Painting Italy Lebanon Art
Zeina Nader is a true force of nature. Her unwavering passion for art drives her to overcome all obstacles, even as her country is shaken by conflict. Despite uncertain security conditions, the painter continues to proudly represent Lebanese art on the international scene, exhibiting her works in Italy. A globetrotter at heart, well-established ...
Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture: A Beacon in Lebanon’s Dark Night
Bélinda Ibrahim 09/11 18:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Museum Beirut Heritage Lebanon Culture
In these dark times, when Lebanon’s heritage is brought to its knees, when the ancient jewels of our culture teeter under bombardment, our hearts ache for Baalbeck, Tyre, and many other mythical places already wounded, whose future hangs by a thread. When the iconic Palmyra Hotel in Baalbeck, witness to so many eras, lies injured by bombs, a ...
Heritage: Are Tyre and Baalbeck Collateral Victims of Human Murderous Madness?
Bélinda Ibrahim 30/10 16:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
Baalbeck Tyre Lebanon War World Heritage
Tyre and Baalbeck, Lebanon’s ancient gems, are shaken by the relentless bombardment. Recent Israeli airstrikes near these UNESCO World Heritage sites jeopardize an irreplaceable cultural legacy. An evacuation order for Baalbeck has foreshadowed potential strikes with unpredictable consequences for the site. This relentless cycle of conflict ...
Baalbeck, Tyre: Our Archaeological Jewels at Risk?
Bélinda Ibrahim 24/10 10:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Baalbeck Tyre War World Heritage
Listed as a World Heritage site since 1984, the complex of Roman temples in Baalbeck is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the world. With its monumental colonnades and gigantic sanctuaries dedicated to Jupiter, Bacchus, and Venus, it stands as a testament to the grandeur of Roman architecture at its peak. But today, this jewel is ...
Crowned with the Nobel Prize in Literature: Han Kang, Anatomist of the Soul
Bélinda Ibrahim 11/10 16:14 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Nobel Price Literature South Korea
Born on November 27, 1970, in Gwangju, Han Kang is the daughter of writer Han Seung-won. Her childhood and writing have been forever marked by the bloody suppression of the Gwangju Uprising in her hometown in 1980, when she was just 9 years old. Although her family had moved to Seoul just before the tragedy, her accidental discovery of photos of ...
Zeina Nader’s Art Illuminates Milan, Defying Lebanon’s War
Bélinda Ibrahim 08/10 18:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
The Ikonica Art Gallery, located in central Milan, is hosting an exceptional collective exhibition, featuring talented artists from across the globe. This international art event gathers creators from France, Italy, England, Spain, Georgia, Japan, the United States, the Netherlands, and Lebanon. Among these artists, Zeina Nader, a Lebanese ...
Nidal Haddad: Abou Melhem and Oum Melhem, Model Grandparents for the Lebanese
Bélinda Ibrahim 13/09 18:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Last Wednesday, Aley paid a heartfelt tribute to Abou Melhem and Oum Melhem, the legendary couple of Lebanese television. During this emotional ceremony, their granddaughter, Nidal Haddad, spoke with emotion about the authenticity, wisdom, and lasting imprint her grandparents left in the hearts of the Lebanese, calling them “model ...
Paris Paralympics Closing Ceremony: A Dazzling Celebration of Johnny, Breakdance and Electro
Bélinda Ibrahim 09/09 11:31 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
The Paris Paralympic Games came to a spectacular end on Sunday, during a ceremony that blended emotional tributes, breathtaking artistic performances and a celebration of French electronic music, capping off an extraordinary summer filled with sports and togetherness. The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games concluded in style on Sunday evening at the ...
Venice Film Festival Honors Almodovar, Kidman and Lindon for Bold Artistic Choices
Bélinda Ibrahim 08/09 10:59 - Reading : 8 minute(s)
The awards of the 81st Venice Film Festival crowned Pedro Almodovar, honored the intense performances of Vincent Lindon and Nicole Kidman, and celebrated actresses over 50, proving that talent knows no age. Here’s a look back at an edition that celebrated auteur cinema and boldness. Pedro Almodovar Finally Wins the Golden Lion With The ...
With ‘Maroun Returns to Beirut’, Feyrouz Serhal Revives the Spirit of Maroun Baghdadi
Bélinda Ibrahim 05/09 10:15 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Thirty years after the tragic passing of Maroun Baghdadi, filmmaker Feyrouz Serhal takes us on an emotional journey through the heart of Beirut, retracing the steps of this pioneer of Lebanese cinema who revolutionized the seventh art during the civil war of the 1970s and 80s. Maroun Returns to Beirut, her first feature-length documentary, which ...
Valet Parking Delirium: “Because You’re Worth It”!
Bélinda Ibrahim 02/09 18:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Welcome to Lebanon, the land of Cedars and mafias of all kinds! The latest sensation? The parking valet mafia, which adds a certain flair to the already long list of leeches draining us to the bone with unparalleled delicacy. From electricity generators to water tanks, to currency exchangers, all of them, absolutely all, are lining their pockets ...
“Disability Can Affect Everyone”: The Powerful Message of the Paralympic Games
Bélinda Ibrahim 29/08 18:24 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
The opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games moved the entire world on Wednesday evening. A grand spectacle celebrating inclusion, diversity and self-overcoming, marked by the poignant testimonies of disabled athletes and a breathtaking scenography. Unlike the Olympic Games opening ceremony, which sometimes veered into excess, ...
Alain Delon, the Rising Sun of Cinema, Has Set in Douchy
Bélinda Ibrahim 25/08 18:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
On Saturday, August 24, 2024, a chapter in cinema history closed with the burial of Alain Delon in the chapel of his estate in Douchy, in the Loiret region. A week after the legendary actor’s death at the age of 88, about forty close friends and family gathered for an intimate and moving farewell to the man who had captivated generations ...
Alain Delon, the Steely Blue Gaze Etched in Film History
Bélinda Ibrahim 18/08 18:00 - Reading : 7 minute(s)
Alain Delon, the iconic figure of French cinema, has passed away at the age of 88. Although the deterioration of his health foreshadowed the inevitable, the announcement of his death resonated like an emotional earthquake, powerfully reminding us of the end of an era. Here is a look back at the life and career of a legendary actor. This Sunday, ...
Taylor Swift's Concerts Canceled in Vienna: Can Terrorism Silence Our Culture?
Bélinda Ibrahim 08/08 11:43 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The cancellation of Taylor Swift’s concerts in Vienna due to a terrorist threat raises profound questions about the vulnerability of Western culture — and its followers — in the face of those who seek to spread terror. The cancellation of the three Taylor Swift concerts scheduled for this week at Vienna’s Ernst-Happel Stadium, ...
“Unmasked”: A Celebration of Contemporary Lebanese Art in the Heart of Venice
Bélinda Ibrahim 05/08 18:47 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
As the Venice Biennale is in full swing, a captivating exhibition is illuminating the artistic landscape of the City of Canals. “Unmasked,” showcased at the prestigious Galleria ItinerArte, offers a fascinating dive into contemporary Lebanese art through the works of three renowned artists: Zeina Nader, Claude Saba, and Lina Husseini. ...
"Natrin…": The 44 Silhouettes of Pierre Abboud Demand Justice
Bélinda Ibrahim 04/08 14:47 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Four years after the tragedy of the Beirut port explosion, artist Pierre Abboud calls out to the capital with Natrin..., a striking installation of 44 life-sized colored metal silhouettes, embodying the relentless cry of the victims’ families who, despite the passage of time, have never stopped demanding truth and justice. On August ...
Culture in Lebanon: An Act of Resistance and Faith
Bélinda Ibrahim 02/08 18:33 - Reading : 7 minute(s)
In these troubled times, as Lebanon is once again plunged into uncertainty, culture remains an unwavering pillar and a bulwark against the darkness threatening to engulf the Land of the Cedars. Despite the challenges the nation faces, the Lebanese display extraordinary resilience, celebrating life with unmatched fervor. In this article, we review ...
Colette Naufal, the Lady of Lebanese Cinema, Bids Farewell
Bélinda Ibrahim 01/08 09:46 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Colette Naufal, founder of the Beirut International Film Festival, shaped the Lebanese cinematic landscape for more than two decades. Her passing at 78 leaves a significant void, but her legacy is imperishable. The Birth of a Passion Although few details are known about Colette Naufal’s youth, it is evident that she developed a deep ...