Martyrs Square
Martyrs Square in Beirut, 19 October 2019, a day of protest against corruption and mismanagement of the country.

Joe, 26 years old
"The big problem right now is that Lebanon is extremely heterogeneous... Me, I stay in the fight because I ve been waiting for it to happen like this for a long time and I m very happy with the revolution because this country has to change."

Caren, 26 years old
"I want to stay here, I want to fight for my people, because we are an incredible people. This country is my secret garden and I don t want to leave it because of a sectarian regime. This regime has to go away, not me."

Hovsep, 22 years old
"I'm trying to keep hope in this revolution. When I feel bad about the current situation, I go down to Downtown to see my friends. This revolution has given me new connections and opened me up to my people, barriers have fallen. The communication between people has really changed and to be honest the revolution is just beginning."

Gabrielle, 33 years old
"It s emotionally very complex, especially when you have a lot to lose. I don t want to die in the street, I think it s unfair, but at the same time I want to live at home and this is my home. It's hard to work 12 hours and change in the car when you get out to demonstrate and become another person. I feel like I'm completely schizophrenic."

Michele, 38 years old
"This revolution is great, there is a big opportunity and we can take advantage of it, but from a collective point of view we are still in a period of adaptation, understanding and education. It's taking time and it scares me because I don't know how much time we have."

Mario, 27 years old
"Lebanon is my country but it is not mine, it is where I was born, where I live but it does not belong to me. Today, after four months of mobilization, I realize that fighting in the streets cannot work. Going out to demonstrate, fighting with the police or singing slogans won t change anything because there is not enough people. Population needs to be educated."

Maurice, 31 years old
"When my friends told me they wanted to leave Lebanon, I laughed. I told them: "You can have a good life everywhere on earth and also here in Lebanon". And that was my decision. I m going to try Canada but my money is in the bank... I can t withdraw it."

Shadi, 27 years old
"For the first time, we could see the Lebanese people united, far from political confessionalism. We live in this country, we must learn to live together. I am proud of my people and hope to see a better Lebanon."

Revolution blues

Revolution Blues is a serie of portraits about the change of mindset of Lebanese citizens, between 20 and 40 years old in Ashrafieh, Beirut, following 4 months of uprising. It is the story of an awareness. Of those people who before the revolution dreamed of a radical change and who today do not really know what this popular uprising is leading to. From now on, faced with the immobility of the situation, they have to think differently and further. Since 17 October 2019, Lebanon has been experiencing a popular uprising born of a loss of confidence in the ruling class. The mismanagement of the mid-October fires that ravaged 1,200 hectares of country's forest heritage, as well as the attempt to introduce a tax on free online Whatsapp messaging, were the triggers of a revolt that had been brewing for several months, if not years. For more than four months now, this country, already in a bad economic situation, has been in slow motion. The Lebanese are experiencing the worst economic crisis since the civil war (1975-1990).

Martyrs SquareMartyrs Square in Beirut, 19 October 2019, a day of protest against corruption and mismanagement of the country.

Joe, 26 years old"The big problem right now is that Lebanon is extremely heterogeneous... Me, I stay in the fight because I ve been waiting for it to happen like this for a long time and I m very happy with the revolution because this country has to change."

Caren, 26 years old"I want to stay here, I want to fight for my people, because we are an incredible people. This country is my secret garden and I don t want to leave it because of a sectarian regime. This regime has to go away, not me."

Michele, 38 years old"This revolution is great, there is a big opportunity and we can take advantage of it, but from a collective point of view we are still in a period of adaptation, understanding and education. It's taking time and it scares me because I don't know how much time we have."

Maurice, 31 years old"When my friends told me they wanted to leave Lebanon, I laughed. I told them: "You can have a good life everywhere on earth and also here in Lebanon". And that was my decision. I m going to try Canada but my money is in the bank... I can t withdraw it."