A
moment of pure magic with Catherine
Deneuve in Lebanon
Prestigious
gala dinner at the «InterContinental
Phoenicia» hotel in
Beirut
in benefit of Skoun Association
Article
by CARLA HENOUD, published in
l’Orient-le Jour on 14
May 2007
Just
like in the plateau of an ideal
Hollywood cinema where decoration,
actors, extras, subject, image and
sound perfectly concur without
default, the gala dinner in benefit
of Skoun Association for the
prevention and treatment of
addiction in
Lebanon
embraced the capital, on Saturday
evening, with a much-acclaimed
glamour. The appearance by Catherine
Deneuve in the main role, like a
shooting star in the clouded
Beirut
sky, has bestowed the evening event
with its dream part. Mixed to a
perfect program, the fashion show of
the spring summer collection
« Awaiting spring... »
by designer Rabih Kayrouz, a
performance by Nancy Ajram and for a
good cause, this gala event was
widely considered the event of the
year…
It
is one of the magical nights that
brings forth the rebirth of
Lebanon
from its ashes.. Reviving the
splendorous past, undermined by
several ill-intentioned parties.
Driving to think and believe that
anything is possible, above all the
achievement of happiness.. Within
the immemorial framework of
InterContinental Phoenicia hotel,
around its royal swimming pool, more
than 400 elegantly dressed persons
gathered in witness of the splendor
of the pre-war years. And… the
beautiful Catherine Deneuve, in
Lebanon
for a few days, to participate in
the filming of the feature film
starring Joana Hadjithomas and
Khalil Joreige I want to see. The
production wisely benefited from the
gala in order to film a scene from
the short film in which « a
very beautiful woman, an
international icon, a great actress
came to
Lebanon
».
At
half past eight, « action! ».
The actress, having made its
entrance with a fabulous evening
dress, under the watchful eye of an
impressed public, a very mobile
camera and photographers swarming
around her, was welcomed by Sara
Trad, director of Skoun Association.
Reality and fiction mingle for a
moment. Four times did Catherine
Deneuve make a majestic appearance
and then, went to sit for a moment
at the table of French Ambassador
Bernard Émié, before fading out in
the night. The evening gala
continued, with Ricardo Karam as
master of ceremony, who was eager to
pay a supported tribute to the late
Alia el-Solh and
Skoun Association, operating
since 2003, with a team of
psychiatrists and psychologists, in
the prevention and treatment of drug,
alcohol and tobacco dependency.
At
the moment of departure, just before
midnight, an evening Cinderella
stated: "This is
Lebanon
!" Full of generosity and
hospitality, a dreamland, with
know-how and the will to live
decently, and above all, the
nostalgia of legitimate happiness.
