Mirrors and Hair Dye

Mirrors and hair dye symbolize Zalfa’s fierce insistence on dignity and control in a life marked by chaos. By treating her reflection and her dyed hair as daily rituals, she claims a measure of agency over aging, illness, and political upheaval. Her son’s role as unofficial hairdresser reinforces how care, vanity, and dependence intertwine in their relationship.

Banks and Locked Accounts

The banks and their locked accounts symbolize institutional betrayal and the fragility of middle-class security in Lebanon. Raja trusts the banking system to protect his savings, only to discover that his money exists on paper but not in his hands. The physical buildings, with their glass doors and furious crowds outside, stand for a state that extracts obedience and deposits but abandons citizens when they need protection.

Mr. Cat

Mr. Cat symbolizes stubborn, non-negotiable love in a world that treats...