Biography
Jocelyne Saab was a filmmaker and a photographer. She was born in 1948 and grew up in Beirut. In 1973, she became a war reporter in the Middle-East, covering the war of October for Magazine 52, the third television channel in France. In 1975 she directed her first feature film, a documentary released in Parisian cinemas: Lebanon in Turmoil, distributed by Pascale Dauman. She will then cover the Lebanese war for fifteen years, during which she directs almost thirty films, including Beirut, never again, broadcasted on France 2 in 1976, Letter from Beirut and Beirut, my city, broadcasted on France 3 between 1978 and 1982. In 1977 both Egypt, City of the Dead and The Sahara is not up for sale and were shot and released in Parisian cinemas. In 1981, she shots Iran, Utopia in the making on the days following the Iranian revolution, which received several international prizes. In 1998, she went to Vietnam and directed a documentary called The Lady of Saigon, which is awarded best French documentary by the French senate. It’s broadcasted on France 2, and in many international festivals.
Directed 33
2010s
- 2018
My Name is Mei Shigenobu
Director
- 2016
Imaginary Postcards
Director
One Dollar a Day
Director
- 2013
Gender Cafe
Director
2000s
- 2009
What's Going On?
Director
- 2006
Dunia
Director
1990s
- 1996
The Lady of Saigon
Director
- 1995
Once Upon a Time in Beirut
Director
- 1991
Fertilization in Video
Director
1980s
- 1989
Les Almées, danseuses orientales
Director
- 1988
La Tueuse
Director
- 1986
The Ghosts of Alexandria
Director
La Croix des Pharaons
Director
L’Amour d’Allah
Director
- 1985
The Razor's Edge
Director
- 1983
Beirut, My City
Director
- 1982
The Ship of Exile
Director
Lebanese, Hostages of Their City
Director
- 1981
- 1980
Iran, Utopia on the Move
Director
1970s
- 1979
Making of Nahla
Director
- 1978
Egypt, City of the Dead
Director
A Letter from Beirut
Director
- 1977
Sahara Is Not for Sale
Director
- 1976
South Lebanon: The Story of a Village Under Siege
Director
For a Few Lives
Director
Children of War
Director
Beirut, Never Again
Director
- 1975
Lebanon in a Whirlwind
Director
Rejection Front
Director
Personal Drawing of a French Mercenary
Director
- 1974
Les Palestiniens continuent
Director
Palestinian Women
Director
Produced 10
2010s
- 2016
Imaginary Postcards
Producer
2000s
- 2009
What's Going On?
Producer
- 2006
Dunia
Producer
1980s
- 1985
The Razor's Edge
Producer
1970s
- 1977
Sahara Is Not for Sale
Producer
- 1976
Children of War
Producer
For a Few Lives
Producer
Beirut, Never Again
Producer
- 1975
Lebanon in a Whirlwind
Producer
- 1974
Palestinian Women
Producer
Wrote 9
2010s
- 2016
Imaginary Postcards
Screenplay
2000s
- 2009
What's Going On?
Screenplay
- 2006
Dunia
Writer
1990s
- 1995
Once Upon a Time in Beirut
Writer
1980s
- 1985
The Razor's Edge
Idea
- 1982
The Ship of Exile
Writer
1970s
- 1977
Sahara Is Not for Sale
Writer
- 1976
Children of War
Screenplay
- 1974
Palestinian Women
Screenplay
Camera 5
2020s
- 2026
Revolutionaries Never Die
Director of Photography
1980s
- 1983
Beirut, My City
Director of Photography
- 1982
The Ship of Exile
Director of Photography
Lebanese, Hostages of Their City
Director of Photography
1970s
- 1976
Beirut, Never Again
Director of Photography
Acted in 1
1980s
- 1986
As Kineastas
Movie
Appearances7
1980s
- 1987
- 1983
Beirut, My City
Self
- 1982
Lebanese, Hostages of Their City
Self - Narrator (voice)
1970s
- 1979
Making of Nahla
Self
- 1978
A Letter from Beirut
Self
- 1976
Beirut, Never Again
Narrator (English Voice-Over) (uncredited)
- 1975
Lebanon in a Whirlwind
Self (uncredited)