Näidendite andmebaas

What starts as a journey to shake off the day-to-day routine turns into a harrowing ordeal when seven Estonian men are mistaken for Danish citizens and kidnapped in Lebanon, just as the Arab Spring erupts around them.
Once Upon a Time in Lebanon dives into the biggest (known) kidnapping of Estonian citizens. Not only does it explore the fine line between thrill-seeking and recklessness, but it also offers a glimpse of how quickly the Estonian Foreign Ministry and KAPO (the Estonian Internal Security Service) must find solutions in an entirely unfamiliar territory, foreign religion, and customs.
The story revolves around an ensemble of characters. Through Karmo’s eyes, we gain a glimpse of the cyclists’ endeavours. Through Ester, who used to work in the Foreign Ministry, we see the despair of not being able to do anything and a mother’s pain, which culminates in burning a Persian carpet. Through Anni, we learn about how a family tries to manage their everyday life, and how she has to hear other customers in the supermarket saying they deserve it for being foolish enough to go there.
We gain insight into how officials resolve such issues. The press officer Eva-Liisa balances the line between institutional loyalty and human empathy. She has sharp monologues and is often the bridge between public and private realms. Alex, a KAPO operative with real combat experience, brings tactical precision and grounded urgency to the mission. Samuel, a foreign intelligence agent, approaches the crisis with intellect and charm. Fluent in diplomacy and cultural nuance, he balances political performance with quiet calculation, offering a counterweight to Alex’s blunt realism.
This is not a simple rescue story. It’s a study of collective vulnerability: how a small state improvises under pressure. Based on actual events, Once Upon A Time In Lebanon is a fast-paced documentary thriller about survival, responsibility, and what it means to be a country when citizens’ lives are on the line.