The Insult

Two men from opposite backgrounds clash in a heated exchange that spirals into a courtroom saga. Tony Hanna, a Lebanese Christian, and Yasser Abdallah Salameh, a Palestinian refugee, start with a dispute over a perceived slight and a damaged door. The quarrel deepens as neighbors and friends weigh in, and the case quickly becomes a national flashpoint about identity, honor, and the price of loose words. The film follows the escalating tension through testimony, media glare, and the delicate balance of justice in a society torn along sectarian lines. The tension in the room is palpable as everyday grievances collide with bigger social fault lines. The narrative resists easy blame, watching how a single moment can ripple through a city that wants to believe in fairness.

Directed by Ziad Doueiri and released in 2017, The Insult is built from an original screenplay by Joelle Touma. It marks Doueiri's return to provocative social drama after his previous internationally noted films and features a sharp, conversational pace that keeps the courtroom front and center.

The film was Lebanon's official submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards and earned a nomination in that category. The nomination helped spotlight Lebanese cinema on a global stage and underscored the film's tense, dialogue heavy approach.

Beyond the screen The Insult raised conversations about how everyday words can inflame prejudice and how a courtroom debate can reflect a nation's fault lines. It sparked discussions about accountability, media coverage, and the fragility of coexistence in a country that wears its divisions openly.

Critics praised the film for its restrained performances and tense dialogue as it probes how bias, memory and pride shape the hunt for justice. The Insult is hailed as timely and thought provoking, with strong performances particularly from Adel Karam and Kamel El Basha that carry the intensity.