Fairuz, We Hielden Zoveel van Mekaar (2003)

The Lebanese singer Fairuz has been a living legend throughout the Arab world for generations. She is based in Beirut, the vibrant yet troubled capital of Lebanon. Throughout the fifteen-year civil war (1975–1990), Fairuz remained steadfast in Beirut, and everyone – whether Christian or Muslim, left-wing or right-wing – continued to revere the singer and her nightingale voice. In this way, Fairuz became the ultimate symbol of national unity.

WE LOVED EACH OTHER SO MUCH (2003), or ‘Fairuz, we loved each other so much’, as the Dutch director Jack Janssen titled his documentary, recounts the diverse life stories of Beirut’s inhabitants. Whether it concerned the civil war, the Palestinian cause or religious divisions, Fairuz and her music resonated with every one of the city’s residents.