Beirut

The 1983 Beirut bombings serve as a setting for the movie BEIRUT, starring Jon Hamm and Rosamund Pike. In 1972 Mason Skiles (Hamm), a United States diplomat to Lebanon is living in Beirut with his wife Nadia (Leila Bekhti) and a 13-year old Lebanese boy they care for named Karim (Idir Chender). When Nadia and Mason are having a party, Nadia is killed during an attack when Karim is abducted by his brother Rami (Ben Affan). As a result, Mason leaves Beirut.

Ten years later Mason is approached to give a lecture in Lebanon. After the tragedy of losing his wife, he is hesitant to return to Beirut, but accepts the offer. When Mason arrives in Beirut, he meets State Department officials and discovers the real reason he was summoned. He agrees to work with CIA agent Sandy Crowder (Pike) to negotiate the release of his friend, CIA officer Cal Riley (Mark Pellegrino), who was recently abducted.

BEIRUT is a spy thriller with remarkable performances and wonderful direction by Brad Anderson. Tony Gilroy's screenplay provides a credible connection to the Beirut bombings of 1983 when President Ronald Reagan kept a U.S. military force in Lebanon. The constant fear residents are living in is apparent, as they are persecuted for their beliefs and explosions abound. The destroyed buildings are evidence of a war atmosphere and city of unrest.

BEIRUT is currently playing in theatres. The official Web site is https://bleeckerstreetmedia.com/beirut.