The documentary film by award-winning Moroccan-American filmmaker Rita Baghdadi about Slave To Sirens, the first all-female thrash metal band in Lebanon, just premiered at Sundance Film Festival.
Much of the film is taken up by the on-again, off-again relationship of the two most prominent members of the band, Lilas and Sherry.
This “coming-of-age story” reflects on the changing gender norms in Lebanon where more women are choosing careers over marriage. Thus, by having Sherry and Lilas get rid of the societal norms and perform on stage.
In recent years, the metal band Slave To Sirens was making a name for itself while touring the underground scene of Beirut.
In Rita Baghdadi’s documentary “Sirens,” the metal band is led by guitarists Lilas Mayassi and Shery Bechara. The documentary showcases how the band deals with Lebanon and how their surrounding also deals with the struggles of their country.
Lilas Mayassi and Shery Bechara are the two stars of the documentary and they present their confrontation and the trials of living in a deteriorating capital city full of protests and a crippling economy.
The first Middle Eastern all-female thrash metal band also includes drummer Tatyana Boughaba, vocalist Maya Khairallah, and bassist Alma Doumani.
Consequently, Slave To Sirens is changing the misconception about the Lebanese and Middle Eastern women as it performs in different countries and on different stages.
Another Lebanese-themed film is also premiering at Sundance Film Festival: Warsha.
The Sundance Film Festival is an annual event and one of the largest independent film festivals in the United States.
