{
  "id": 6522871,
  "title": "How Lebanon’s banking crisis inspired a George Clooney-backed heist film",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/how-lebanons-banking-crisis-inspired-a-george-clooney-backed-heist",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-10T02:01:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/film-tv/2026/09/10/how-lebanons-banking-crisis-inspired-a-george-clooney-backed-heist-film/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Rami Kodeih and his wife Nora Mariana, both successful filmmakers, have been backed by Hollywood star George Clooney for their debut feature film, Furies. The movie, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, is inspired by the Lebanese banking crisis of 2019. Clooney's production company, Smokehouse Pictures, has a history of producing acclaimed films that reach a global audience but also carry a strong message. Mariana, who has Lebanese roots, was personally affected by the crisis when she needed surgery and found it impossible to access her savings in Lebanon. This traumatic experience sparked an idea for her husband to write a movie about \"heisting our own money back.\" The film follows two sisters, Maro and Dalia, who come up with the idea of breaking into a local bank to steal back the money owed to them. The sisters' decision to commit the crime is a reflection of many people's desperate situation during the crisis. What sets Furies apart from other heist movies is that the two female protagonists are the ones who instigate the crime, a concept that resonates with Mariana, who admires strong female characters like Thelma in Thelma & Louise. The film was shot in Lebanon to capture its unique atmosphere and soul, which the filmmakers believe cannot be replicated elsewhere. The movie also explores the emotional toll the crisis has had on the couple, as they are far away from their families and constantly worry about their loved ones. Despite the tragic events in Lebanon, such as the port explosion in 2020, the couple remains hopeful and determined to bring their story to the big screen.",
  "summary": "It’s not often a first-time feature filmmaker gets the backing of a Hollywood heavyweight such as George Clooney . But that’s exactly what has happened Lebanese director Rami Kodeih, 43, and his co-writer and wife, Nora Mariana, with their debut feature Furies . Clooney’s Smokehouse Pictures, which he runs with producing partner Grant Heslov, came on board for the film, which was unveiled at this…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "How Lebanon’s banking crisis inspired a George Clooney-backed heist film",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/how-lebanons-banking-crisis-inspired-a-george-clooney-backed-heist-6523322",
        "published": "2026-09-10T02:01:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}