This October, the Khayrallah Center collaborated with the Triangle Lebanese-American Center to host a screening of WE NEVER LEFT, a documentary-style film born of the Lebanese diaspora’s complex feelings during a traumatic period in Lebanon.

WE NEVER LEFT follows three Lebanese emigrants as they struggle with their distance from home during civil protests, the worldwide pandemic, and eventually, a state of humanitarian crisis. A perfectly curated blend of moments of camaraderie amidst candid shots of heartbreaking tragedy, the film captivated viewers from start to finish, leaving the room heavy with emotion at its conclusion.

Director, Editor, Producer, and Cinematographer Loulwa Khoury was present for the screening and a discussion following the film. The resiliency of the Lebanese people served as an overarching theme; audience members shared personal anecdotes of times they’d felt knocked down and overwhelmed by the horrifying events in their homeland, but emphasized how the power of their culture and community gave them the drive they needed to keep going.

“Our resistance through our culture is what keeps us going, but it also makes us stronger.”
– Loulwa Khoury

“There are more Lebanese living abroad than within the country,” Khoury said in her director’s statement for the film. “For hundreds of years, Lebanese have been emigrating, due to the endless turmoil. I myself left when I was 22 for a better future. But over the years I’ve been wondering if I made the right decision to leave, or if I truly ever left.

When the Lebanese revolution started in October 2019, I met the Lebanese diaspora of New York and I found myself compelled like never before as a filmmaker. I was amongst my people. Up until that point I was a film editor, but I grabbed my camera and started filming. These were my instincts as a filmmaker and as a citizen – to shed light on what’s happening in my country and tell the story of my people.”

Read more about WE NEVER LEFT’s creation and impact via its website. Or, if you’re interested in attending more events like this, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media to stay updated.