A theatre director, specializing in working with disadvantaged and traumatized people, Zeina Daccache creates Lebanon's first prison-based drama project in the country's notorious Roumieh Prison. For 15 months, 45 adult male inmates, some illiterate, found themselves working together to present an adaptation of the famous stage play 12 Angry Men, here re-named 12 Angry Lebanese. Through their new-found creative outlet, we witness the prisoners coalesce into a slick, professional ensemble. The drama therapy sessions, the interviews with the inmates, the moments of crisis, the moments of joy, and the interaction with both Daccache and the external audience, convey an extraordinary message of hope, forgiveness and change. Inspiring and honest, this account of the prisoners' journey demonstrates the efficacy of drama therapy and its positive effects on some of the most ostracized individuals in society.
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