Martyrs

“Martyrs” ... is a drama documentary shot in Lebanon with professional actors. “Martyrs” is about politically motivated suicide, so-called Kamikaze – known to history and very much in the forefront today. In the war-torn Lebanon it is not unusual for young people to become indoctrinated by one or other group or phalanx, nor is it unusual that some of them become victims of a political extremism’s ultimate action –that of volunteering to give their lives as martyrs. The film is about Nadia, grown-up daughter in a family. Christina ideals, rebellion against her parents and meeting her childhood love, Samir, are, among other things, what form Nadia’s political attitude. She keeps her political activities a secret from her family, except her younger sister Mon, whom she prepares to succeed her. Nadia is a fictitious person; she is a mixture of many young Lebanese people that the dramatists met while doing research in the Lebanon. Leyla Assaf-Tengroth was born and brought up in the Lebanon. She has worked in Sweden for several years gaining recognition and winning award for several fearless television productions on controversial issues. “Martyrs” is her début as a director. The aim of “Martyrs” is to expose the danger which political extremism entails, showing how a young person can easily be indoctrinated and become the victim of fanaticism. When the film was first transmitted in May 1988 the reactions were considerable. The writers were accused of running errands for fascism –the opposite of their intentions.