47 seconds, a film calling for a global support to Lebanon to get back its right to power

Posted on 2022 Jul,26 | By ArabAd's staff

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47 seconds, a film calling for a global support to Lebanon to get back its right to power

For 47 years, Lebanon has been facing regular power cuts every day that debilitate life. As Lebanon’s electricity crisis deepens further, a short film has been launched, by the team at Publicis Groupe Middle East & Turkey, labeled '47 seconds' that aims to relay how dysfunctional is the electricity sector and how critical the situation remains to be--a message accompanied by a call to action.

"This one's super close to my heart," admits Tahaab Rais, the Chief Strategy Officer at publicis M&T, who came up with the idea of this short, wrote it and directed it. “I got tears in my eyes writing and acting it out. And it has brought tears to a lot of people in Lebanon who have watched it from our agency and from amongst our close circles.”

“It's for a cause that does matter,” adds Tahaab. Through the story of a father and a daughter over 47 seconds, the film translates in one-take all the helplessness, pain, uncertainty, desperation, loneliness and hopelessness that is the reality of the Lebanese people. The daughter acts as a symbol for Lebanon, who was chosen to be facing an untimely demise, with her condition deteriorating progressively, with every electricity cut. The father acts as a symbol for the Lebanese people, chosen to be the one pleading for help, with every electricity cut, but there no one responds, just like no one’s coming to Lebanon’s aid in the electricity crisis.

The environment has been designed to look and feel bleak, cold and harsh. The camera movement has been planed to be slow and tedious – hence building the angst.

After revealing its purpose, the film directs people to the website titled 'The Right to Power' where they can learn further about the initiative and sign a petition in order to help drive change. The goal of the petition is actually to gain complete transparent access to updates on parliamentary discussions in the electrical sector, and to pressure the newly elected Lebanese parliament to solve the electricity crisis.

The soundtrack of the film, an original composition, titled “Descent” adds to the overall distressed atmosphere.

“Interestingly, more support is coming in from global audiences than locals. Lebanese TV channels, locally, are refusing to talk about this topic owing to political issues they'll have if they do (!!!). So, global and regional support matters,” adds Tahaab.

It is noteworthy to mention that within days of its launch, the film has been picked up as a Vimeo Staff Pick (a rarity for the region) and channels from the US are featuring it, which is another interesting show of support from the international community.