In 2019, inspired by my research on “feminist pornography” and the emergence of sex-positive attitudes within Lebanon’s art scene, I embarked on a project to create a sexually daring film in collaboration with local performers. The script, based on the true story of a scandal involving an erotic performer of Lebanese descent, sought to challenge societal norms and provoke critical discourse.
Ironically, the production process itself mirrored the scandalous nature of the narrative. Filming became a site of controversy, with scenes censored, altered, or abandoned due to societal backlash and logistical constraints. The resulting work, Scandal, emerged as a visually poetic short film that narrates a tale of controversy—yet fell short of achieving the overt provocation initially envisioned.
Five years later, in 2024, I was interviewed about my choice to explore such a provocative topic and its relationship to my identity as an artist. Struggling to provide a definitive answer, I faced a common artistic quandary: reconciling the evolution of one’s self with the legacy of past works. This interview was later integrated into the film, transforming its narrative and adding a meta-reflective layer.
With this addition, Scandal evolved into Reflecting on Scandal—a work that is simultaneously a film and a meditation on its creation, grappling with the complexities of artistic intent, identity, and self-representation over time.
