Dream Of Another Summer Offers a Unique Perspective on Life in Contemporary Beirut at Thessaloniki Int’l Doc Festival & CPH:DOX

Imminent Tensions in “Dream of Another Summer” Focus on Beirut’s Fragility

“Dream of Another Summer,” directed by Irene Bartolomé, immerses viewers in the intense atmosphere of Beirut, where a prevailing sense of danger lingers. The film reflects Bartolomé’s own experiences living in the city for the past six years, particularly the aftermath of the catastrophic August 2020 explosion that claimed over 200 lives and devastated significant portions of the area.

Bartolomé, originally from Barcelona, felt the impact of this disaster firsthand. The explosion was triggered by improperly stored ammonium nitrate at the port, its shockwaves felt across neighboring countries. The filmmaker expresses this experience in her work, which she describes as revealing “the true meaning of destruction.” In her director’s statement, she explains, "I was unable to record the moment, not only because physically or mentally I couldn’t, but because I didn’t aim only to capture reality; I needed time to understand what destruction is to me and what a city is to me."

The documentary premiered recently at the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival in Greece, following its world debut at CPH:DOX. At the Thessaloniki screening, Bartolomé discussed the film’s exploration of absence and presence, stating, “We’re trying to capture with the camera something you cannot see.”

Central to the narrative is Alicia, a character who embodies the film’s complexities. She returns to Beirut from Spain, against the wishes of her partner, whose concerns are conveyed through voice messages that remain unanswered. This relationship adds an emotional layer to the depiction of a city marked by trauma.

Alicia’s obsession with the grain silos near the port, damaged during the explosion, also features prominently in the film. Some of these structures collapsed a year after the blast, posing further risk to the area. Bartolomé uses 3D renderings of the silos to enhance the emotional weight of Alicia’s journey, reflecting on how the physical state of the city mirrors the psychological scars of its inhabitants.

Despite the ongoing violence in Lebanon, including recent airstrikes aimed at Hezbollah, Bartolomé feels an undeniable connection to Beirut. “When I first visited in summer 2019, I fell in love… I felt something mysterious, ‘I need to come back,’” she shared.

In her previous works, including short documentaries set in Brooklyn and Cairo, Bartolomé has explored urbanism, a theme that continues in “Dream of Another Summer.” "I’m always interested in urbanism… I’m not focusing so much on the people but looking at the spaces,” she noted.

To construct the film’s narrative, Bartolomé collaborated with editor Sandra Fatté, a Lebanese native, who guided her in weaving various elements into a cohesive story. This process included balancing personal reflections with striking visual imagery. “It was trying to make sense of all this different… to weave all this together,” remarked Fatté during the Q&A.

The film epitomizes a poignant exploration of Beirut’s identity, depicted through its architecture and the lives that intertwine within it. “Dream of Another Summer unfolds like an afternoon dream told through almost photographic images, voice messages, and chance encounters,” states the CPH:DOX program description.

Bartolomé emphasizes that her work transcends a mere portrayal of Beirut, serving as a visceral journey through a city shaped by cycles of destruction and rebirth. “This film is more than just a portrait of Beirut; it is a vital, sensorial and existential journey through a city that has transformed itself and survived cycles of destruction, perhaps like each of us, who rebuild and transform ourselves based on what happens to us,” she asserts.

As she prepares for the film’s final screening at CPH:DOX, the haunting resonance of Beirut and its narratives continue to echo through Bartolomé’s lens.