Pasolini in Beirut

In 1974, three revolutionary elements came together in Beirut: a city at the centre of political and cultural change, a filmmaker who challenged ideas of queerness and power, and a cultural space called Dar el Fan. By 1975, all three were gone.

This episode of Uncovering Roots follows not just a moment in history, but a personal search for meaning. For Filmmaker Raed Rafei, uncovering Pasolini’s visit to Beirut became a way to explore memory, loss, and the traces of a city that no longer exists. Through letters, archives, and conversations, the episode pieces together a story that links the past to questions we’re still asking today, about queerness, solidarity, and what it means to remember.

This episode was produced by Maxim Saakyan. Sound design by Maxim Saakyan. Voice over by Antonio Sangirardi, Bashar Atiyat, Sarah Sarofim and Zeina Dowidar.

This topic was inspired by Raed Rafei's e-flux article.

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