Private Project

KHARAB

A psychological drama that constructs a stream-of-consciousness meditation on war, distorted memory and the effect of a near death experience on a human's mental state. Based on a true story. Shot in one take.

  • Sarah Saleh
    Director
  • Sarah Saleh
    Writer
  • Sarah Saleh
    Producer
  • Wiktor Grodecki
    Producer
  • Tereza Vejvodova
    Key Cast
  • Tedeas Moravec
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 49 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 25, 2022
  • Country of Origin:
    Lebanon
  • Language:
    No Dialogue
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Sarah Saleh

Sarah Saleh is a Lebanese film director and fashion designer based in Berlin. Upon receiving her Degree in Directing from Barrandov Film School in June 2022, Saleh made her directorial debut with the short film Kharab which she also produced and art directed.
Currently, Saleh is working on her next project, a feature film.

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Director Statement

KHARAB is a personal exploration of the mental trauma caused by war and catastrophic events, inspired by my own experience during the Beirut explosion on August 4th, 2020. Telling the story in one continuous take was a conscious choice to fully immerse the audience in the protagonist’s fractured mind, reflecting how trauma can feel overwhelming and unrelenting as it happens in real time.

The film goes beyond the explosion itself to focus on what comes after, the invisible wounds, fragmented memories, and psychological turmoil that follow a near-death experience. By closely following the protagonist’s perspective, KHARAB captures the raw and often confusing emotional state of survival, where past and present collide and the mind struggles to make sense of devastation.

With this film, I hope to create a space for reflection and empathy, showing the lasting impact of traumatic events on individuals. KHARAB gives voice to the silent aftermath of trauma, reminding us of both the fragility and resilience of the human spirit in the face of destruction.