BEIRUT

US, 2018, 109 minutes, Colour.
Jon Hamm, Rosamund Pike, Mark Pellegrino, Lila Behkti, Shea Wigham.
Directed by Brad Anderson.

Beirut is Beirut is a serious and sombre film. It is political, a dramatic look at American foreign policy, the role of Israel, the PLO. It was written by Tony Gilroy who has written some very interesting serious films like Michael Clayton, Duplicity, Nightcrawler. And the star is Jon Hamm, who made such an impression on television with Mad Men and has now established a film career.

While it is a film about espionage, it is not an action-packed film. It is an appeal to a more intelligent audience and it has disappointed those who are addicted to non-stop action and have found such dialogue tedious.

The film opens in Beirut (although the filming was done in Morocco, much to the upset of some Lebanese commentators. It is 1972, commentary made about coexistence in the country between Muslims and a variety of Christians, Jon Hamm appearing as an American host, Mason, a solid politician and negotiator. He is hosting a party with his wife, a young PLO 13-year-old boy who has been adopted, more or less, by the couple helping with the serving. Suddenly the party is interrupted, officials arriving, threats, the demand to surrender the boy because his brother has been one of the terrorists at the massacre of the Jewish athletes at the Munich Olympic Games. The tensions in the situation leads to some tragic consequences.

The film then moves to 10 years later, 1982, with Mason self-employed back in the US, still in grief about his wife’s death, alcoholic, and negotiator between companies and unions. Unexpectedly, a message comes from the State Department inviting him to return to Lebanon to deal with a hostage situation. The hostage is his close friend who was involved as an authority on the night of the party 10 years earlier.

Mason is somewhat reluctant but, drawing on his skills as a negotiator, he evaluates the situation with the local American authorities, the ambassador, the complexities of the demands by the PLO for Israel to return the terrorist from the Olympic Games who has been taken by the Israelis.

It is also sobering to watch this kind of story realising that this is the kind of thing that is going on in many countries, thinking of the Middle East, abductions, hostage demands, threats of retaliation, the need for the negotiators to have steady nerves and ability to think through situations and potential consequences.

The screenplay takes the audience through the various steps, contact with the Israelis, then discussion with the Israelis who deny having the prisoner, though not calling off further negotiations. There are the contacts with the PLO and their status at the time, and the presence in Lebanon.

Jon Hamm is quite credible in this role, a good man, a man who suffered, a man who has lost some confidence in himself but who draws on his resources to negotiate while respecting the demands and conditions of the respective parties. His co-star in the film is Rosamund Pike as one of the members of the team in Beirut. She is a presence. She is very serious (there is nothing to suggest any levity in the situation) and supports Hamm in the process.

There is a postscript at the end with a speech in a press conference by Ronald Reagan, the President talking about peace in that area of the world while there has been Civil War during the 1970s and impending 1980s invasions of Lebanon by Israel.

A story from past decades but still of immediate relevance.


1. The title, the focus on Beirut, Lebanon? Audience expectations? The history of Lebanon in the 20th century? The film going back to 1972, 1982, the postscript with the ending in the 1980s?

2. Audience interest in Lebanon? The divisions in the country, the city, Muslims, the range of Christians? The experience of Civil War? The relationship with Israel, the PLO? Invasions of Lebanon?

3. Audience interest in American foreign policy, the 1970s and 80s, the role of the United States? The emergence of greater terrorism? Civil War? The 1980s, abductions, mediation? The roles of ambassadors, brokers, foreign affairs staff? Negotiations? The contact with Israel? Surveillance? Issues of money? Betrayal?

4. The use of Moroccan locations for Lebanon? The city, the countryside? The musical score?

5. The introduction, Mason and his role in Lebanon, social host, negotiations, political background? His relationship with his wife? Their taking in Karim and his working in the house? The hopes for adoption and education? The situation in 1972, the Munich Olympic Games, the terrorism deaths? PLO? Israel? The party, the arrival of the authorities, their wanting Mason to give up Karim, the potential for an attack? The reactions of the abductors, the PLO, firing the rifle, Mason and his grief at the death of his wife?

6. 10 years passing, Mason as a broker, with the unions and companies? The meetings, the discussions, the angers? Sully coming to the bar, his message and delivering it?

7. Mason, his grief, work, drinking? The background of his friendship? The offer of the job, the flight, passport, his making the decision?

8. Going to Lebanon, the role of the American Ambassador, the officials, Gary, Gaines? The role of Sandy and her presence? The personalities, interactions?

9. Mason, giving a lecture at the University, the host looking after him? His cover? The discussions, the issues of the deal, the various abuse?

10. The role of Israel, the abduction of Cal Riley, his being held, his friendship with Mason? His role 10 years earlier, the consequences with the death of Mason’s wife?

11. The terrorist, his role in Munich, meetings with his brother in Lebanon, the photos of them together, his cover in Spain? The abduction and the exchanges, PLO wishes? Israel and the denial of the prisoner’s existence? Yet negotiating?

12. The buildup to the exchange, the tensions, Mason and his role, Sandy and her presence? Gary and his irritability? Gaines and his pressures? The role of the ambassador? The visit to Israel, the Israeli authorities, Gary thinking negotiations were over, yet the phone call and the contact? The continued denials, exchanges? The bargaining about the money? Karim and his presence with the PLO? The past friendship?

13. The setup, negotiations, snipers ready, Cal being released, Mason staying, the money exchange, the brother going to Karim? The gun fire, the deaths, the Americans escaping?

14. The aftermath, the assessment, Washington decisions? The role of those in Lebanon? Sandy and her presence in support, her staying?

15. The postscript, the press conference with Ronald Reagan, Israeli invasions and the consequent history for Lebanon?