Tall el Zaatar (1977)

Tall el Zaatar (1977) poster

In the early summer of 1976, right-wing militias representing a coalition of ultra-nationalist and counter-revolutionary forces laid siege to the refugee camp of Tall al-Zaatar (“Hill of Thyme”) in Beirut. After holding out for months without food, water, or medical supplies, and under heavy artillery and sniper fire, the camp fell to the militias on 12 August. What followed was one of the worst atrocities of the civil war, with over 2,500 civilians massacred and the camp razed to the ground. Produced after the massacre, but featuring footage shot before and during the siege, Tall al-Zaatar remembers the camp and its community, recounting the long months of siege and resistance, and recalling the horrors of the massacre through the testimony of survivors.

Director: Jean Khalil Chamoun, Pino Adriano, Mustafa Abu Ali
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 71 min
Release Date:
Country: Italy, Palestinian Territory, Lebanon
Language: العربية
Original Language: ar
More Films by Director: Jean Khalil Chamoun, Pino Adriano, Mustafa Abu Ali
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tall el Zaatar about?
In the early summer of 1976, right-wing militias representing a coalition of ultra-nationalist and counter-revolutionary forces laid siege to the refugee camp of Tall al-Zaatar (“Hill of Thyme”) in Beirut. After holding out for months without food, water, or medical supplies, and under heavy artillery and sniper fire, the camp fell to the militias on 12 August. What followed was one of the worst atrocities of the civil war, with over 2,500 civilians massacred and the camp razed to the ground. Produced after the massacre, but featuring footage shot before and during the siege, Tall al-Zaatar remembers the camp and its community, recounting the long months of siege and resistance, and recalling the horrors of the massacre through the testimony of survivors.
Who directed Tall el Zaatar?
Tall el Zaatar was directed by Jean Khalil Chamoun, Pino Adriano, Mustafa Abu Ali.
How long is Tall el Zaatar?
Tall el Zaatar has a runtime of 1h 11m (71 minutes).
What genre is Tall el Zaatar?
Tall el Zaatar is a Documentary film.
Where was Tall el Zaatar produced?
Tall el Zaatar was produced in Italy, Palestinian Territory, Lebanon.