Selim falls in love with Julia, an older, married woman with
children, who has moved from Aleppo to his village in Tartus, Syria. He is due to leave the village to start his
University studies but instead, they run away from their disapproving families
to begin a life together in 70’s Beirut, Lebanon.
Julia teaches French and Selim works in an office, dreaming
of marriage and children with Julia. For
her part Julia is more than she at first appears. She has a past that she keeps hidden from
Selim, one that involves Roger from Toulon in France. Gradually, this past
becomes the present and eats away at their dreams.
This is a beautifully crafted, deeply moving and fascinating
story, set mainly in Beirut, during the 1960’s and 70’s. Between Two Banks, refers to the river of
life which connects us all but can also separate us on opposite shores. This
tale explores the historical, cultural and social connections and differences
between France, Lebanon and Syria through the thoughts, experiences and
interconnecting life stories of its three main characters, whilst set against
the backdrop of emerging unrest in Lebanon.
It is a tale of love, passion and tragedy, which poignantly
highlights the eternal human condition, as love pulls them together to explore
its deeper, timeless magic and how crushing reality cruelly tears everything
apart.
About the author:
Wajdy Mustafa is a long-time Syrian political activist and
writer. He was imprisoned without trial for 14 years. He has written and
published texts in many magazines and newspapers, written two published books
and many screenplays. In addition, he
has managed a Publishing house. In 2009 he was forced to seek Political Asylum
in Austria, before relocating to the United States. He lives now in Northern
California.
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