The Lebanese Rocket Society (2013)

The strange tale of the Lebanese space race

In the early 60‘s, during the Cold War and the apex of Pan-Arabism, a group of utopian students and researchers enters the race to space and create the Lebanese Rocket Society. Sometimes, dreams can overtake a tormented history…

‘…A group of students led by a professor of mathematics, Manoug Manougian, set up the Lebanese Rocket Society to create and launch rockets for space study and exploration. They produced the first rocket of the region.’ – L’Art Rue

‘This story is a space adventure. Its main protagonists may be scientists, but they are dreamers at heart.’ – Joana Hadjithomas

A film by Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige. Featuring futuristic animations by Ghassan Halawani, imagining Lebanon in 2025 if the Lebanese Rocket Society had continued.

Screened in support of the exhibition 5364 nocturne by Shireen Taweel. Before the screening, at 5.30pm, DPAG Curator Lauren Gutsell will give a tour of 5364 nocturne.

English subtitles, 95 min.

FREE — Screening 6pm Thursday 13 February in Craigs Investment Partners Auditorium

[image: The Lebanese Rocket Society in front of Cedar III, 1962]