Cate Blanchett has voiced her support for the reopening of the Metropolis Cinema in Beirut, Lebanon, on Saturday.
“This is a remarkable achievement, and I extend my congratulations to everyone involved in the opening of the Metropolis Cinema in the heart of Beirut,” Blanchett said in a message read at the official opening ceremony in the city’s Mar Mikhael district.
“Not only will it be a space where Lebanese cinema can flourish and new voices can emerge, but in these deeply tragic, heartbreaking and bewildering times, this venue in Mar Mikhael stands as a testament to resilience and cultural revival — bringing stories to life and uniting the community,” she added.
The 18-year-old cinema had to halt operations during Lebanon’s economic crisis of 2019. Then, the massive devastation of Beirut’s port blast in 2020 unleashed a shock wave explosion that destroyed the cinema complex in the city’s nightlife district.
Opening of Metropolis cinema in Beirut, Lebanon, on Dec. 21.
hoto by Ammar Abd Rabbo/Metropolis Cinema
More recently, the year-long war between the Israeli and Hezbollah armies in Leba