Bahrain, the forgotten country of the Arab Spring, is a small monarchy in the Persian Gulf with a population of 600,000. The local inhabitants rose up simultaneously with their Syrian, Egyptian and Tunisian counterparts in February 2011, claiming the same values – democracy, freedom and dignity. The world didn’t notice the Bahraini uprising, seeing the country as a rich and modern Western ally. Moreover, it is closed to journalists, so there was no one to show the world what was happening there. Stephanie Lamorré managed to enter the country as a tourist and to shoot footage of the bloody uprising. Over 70 people were killed during demonstrations, in prison, or in villages attacked by police. A female doctor who took care of the rebels is faced with 15 years in jail. All this contrasts starkly with the sparkling new shopping centers rising up all over the country.
Stephanie Lamorré is a French documentary filmmaker working as an international independent writer/producer/director; she has produced a diverse array of films for French television. She spent time alone in Iraq, all of Africa, South America, and Central America shooting documentaries covering different subjects from modern slavery to illegal immigration.
Citadel Europe (2003), A Long Journey (2009), LA: Women Gangs (2011), Bahrain, the Forbidden Country (2012)
