"Jinn" lights up the Lebanese sky, a comedy born from the womb of challenges.

In a Beirut night that sparkled with the presence of an elite group of artists and media personalities, Lebanon celebrated the launch of its new comedy film “Keys”, a unique cinematic work, woven by the creative writer Azdsheer Jalal Ahmed, directed with brilliance by Abbas Fadlallah, and produced by the ambitious Watini Production company. The film, whose idea was inspired by the artist Jad Abu Ali, who co-stars in it alongside Rania Issa and Carla Merhi, includes a constellation of Lebanese screen stars, including Youssef Haddad, Rozy Khouli, Patrick Mubarak, Maroun Assaf, Fouad Hassan, and Chef Antoine in a special appearance.

"A Fortune Teller, a Genie, and a Lost Treasure"... A journey through magical worlds and intertwined time.

The film's story revolves around a fortune teller with an exceptional ability to read people's thoughts, aided by a genie who accompanies her on her spiritual journey. The fortune teller spends her days offering help and advice to those seeking answers to their secrets, until a charming and mysterious woman enters her life, carrying with her a challenge of a different kind: the mission of finding a buried treasure left behind by her grandfather, which had been hidden for many years under the protection of supernatural forces. By accepting this exciting adventure, the fortune teller embarks on an exciting journey through intertwined magical worlds, each characterized by a unique time and space, to face a series of unexpected adventures and challenges that test her convictions and spiritual abilities. But as the fortune teller gets closer to solving the mystery of the treasure, she encounters an astonishing truth that turns her life upside down and forces her to reevaluate everything she believed in. The journey transforms from an enjoyable fantasy adventure into a profound human story that delves into the depths of emotions and inner conflicts.

"Born from the Womb of Difficulties"... The crew defies all odds to bring a smile.

In a moving interview with the media covering the launch event, producer Tarek Sharaf Eldin described the film as “an adventure in itself,” and that its production was “an even greater adventure.” He pointed to the extremely difficult circumstances the crew faced during filming, and praised the commitment and dedication of every member of the crew and cast, who rose to the challenge. He revealed that they had to stop filming for a certain period of time for security reasons, which led to filming continuing throughout the winter and summer. Sharaf Eldin emphasized that the film “was executed with wonderful youthful energy and great enthusiasm,” and that the main goal was “to lift the viewer out of the state of despair and fear they had experienced during the last months.”

"The Four Faces Challenge"... Carla Marei recounts a unique experience in a time of anxiety

The film's star, Carla Marei, described her experience as having begun with the challenge of portraying four different characters, but she discovered that "every day of filming was a challenge in itself." She noted that they would pray "that the day would end peacefully" and that they would return to check on their loved ones, and that they now had "two families instead of one family." She emphasized that everyone worked "as one hand to make the work a success despite the difficult circumstances," with the goal of "drawing laughter on people's faces." She noted that the film includes "everything: comedic, dramatic, realistic, and emotional moments," which will attract the audience and make them "live the story with us with all its feelings" and feel as if they are "part of the adventure between laughter, emotion, and suspense."

"A Laughter in the Face of Fear"... The director sees the film as a product of challenges and hope.

The film's director, Abbas Fadlallah, emphasized that "this film was born after great challenges, amidst war and difficult times," and that this is perhaps what drove them "to strive to create a true work of art." He summarized his experience in the film by saying: "Laughter and joy in times when everything around us was frightening and turbulent." He praised working with "a creative team in such circumstances," which was "the greatest reward," stressing that "every moment was worth the effort" and filled with "hope, laughter, and comedy." He concluded his speech by thanking the "wonderful directing team," the actors, and the producer who believed in the idea, emphasizing that they were "the main reason for the success of this work."

"A unique fantasy experience." Jad Abu Ali praises the strangeness of the story and the surprises.

For his part, actor Jad Abu Ali considered the film "a strange and first-of-its-kind experience, especially as a fantasy film," and that "the production adventure in the shadow of war had a special character and was accompanied by unforgettable memories." He pointed out that "the film's advantage lies in the strangeness of the relationship between the characters and the structure of the story," stressing that "the audience will be surprised at the end of the film."

"Comedy in the Sky of Bombing"... Rania Issa describes the contradictory filming experience

Regarding her experience filming the movie, actress Rania Issa asked with emotion: “Can you imagine how we were filming a comedy movie with the sounds of bombing and aircraft over our heads?!” She described the experience as “intense, full of contradictory feelings between joy and laughter on one hand, and fear and anxiety on the other.” She emphasized that they were a team “with one heart and one goal, which is to make the movie a success.” She pointed out that what attracts the movie is that it is “new and unconventional,” and makes the viewer “live the adventure and takes them to worlds full of excitement, suspense, and laughter.” She expected that “the audience will leave the movie happy and with a smile on their face, God willing.”

As it opens in Lebanese theaters today, the film "Keys" brings with it great hope that it will light up the Lebanese cinematic sky with a touching and impactful work of art, defying difficult circumstances and offering a dose of comedy and hope at a time when viewers may need them more than ever.