Rakan Mayasi on Shooting ‘Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep’ in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley: ‘I Had to Repeat Takes Twice Because of the Sound of an Explosion Over the Dialogue’
Rakan Mayasi's debut feature film, 'Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep,' explores the lives of two Bedouin sisters in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. The film was shot without a script and features non-professional actors, capturing the challenges faced by the sisters amidst patriarchal traditions. Mayasi's work is influenced by personal experiences, including a tribute to his grandmother, and reflects the realities of life in a conflict zone.
- ▪Rakan Mayasi's film premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes.
- ▪The film is inspired by Mayasi's grandmother, who was forced into marriage at a young age.
- ▪The shooting process was complicated by the sounds of explosions from nearby Israeli jets.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Home Film Festivals May 21, 2026 8:10am PT Rakan Mayasi on Shooting ‘Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep’ in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley: ‘I Had to Repeat Takes Twice Because of the Sound of an Explosion Over the Dialogue’ By Nick Vivarelli Plus Icon Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent @NickVivarelli Latest Rakan Mayasi on Shooting ‘Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep’ in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley: ‘I Had to Repeat Takes Twice Because of the Sound of an Explosion Over the Dialogue’ 3 minutes ago Film AlUla Bolsters Role as Movie Industry Driver as Saudi Kingdom Raises Its Film Production Rebate to 60% 1 hour ago Asghar Farhadi on Paris-Set ‘Parallel Tales’ and Returning to War-Battered Iran: ‘It’s Like Having a Sick Mother…You Cannot Leave Her and Just Let Her Be’ 1 day ago See All Courtesy Cannes…
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