Animator and filmmaker George Aboumehya shared moments from his art, which was shaped by Lebanon’s crises and wars. He said real caricature must be provocative and shocking. It should shake public awareness and avoid the trap of empty mockery.
Aboumehya also spoke about today’s generation. He compared its state to a “national Stockholm syndrome.” Young people feel “stuck” in their own land, unable to move forward or back. In his view, this mirrors Beirut, which carries the identity and harsh memories of war.
In an interview with The Speech, he discussed his film “Jim 1983.” It is set in that period and draws on his childhood memories under bombardment, when he watched cartoons amid a similar reality. He said the film’s message is clear. A child tries to stop time amid the absurdity of war.
He also highlighted one of the hardest challenges parents face today. As cycles of violence continue, how do they explain war and loss to children? In his view, the most honest approach is to tell children’s stories. These show how young people deal with grief and loss. They avoid the complexities that adults themselves cannot grasp.
