Saif Summer 840, Story Musical Play, Mansour Rahbani

Summer 840 - Saif 840 - Story of the Musical Play

It is the story of the Ammiyah of Antelias, or the peasants' revolution, the story of leaders from all Lebanese communities who swore on the 7th of June, 1840, before St Elie's altar at Antelias, to unite against Emir Bachir II who was allied with the Egyptians and the French.

It is the story of a people eager for freedom, a story of resistance against injustice, a story of others' wars on our land. And today, the history is repeating itself.

The peasants and their leaders were supported by the Ottomans, the British, the Russians and the Prussians, while Emir Bachir II was backed up by the French and Pasha Ibrahim who mobilized a large campaign against Syria and Lebanon in order to arrest the Ammiyah leaders.

Between the interests of foreigners in our land, and the desire of a people eager for freedom, Mansour Rahbani, the expert in history, wrote a love story between Sayf Elbahr, the peasant rebel and Mira the daughter of Captain Assaf El Daher, a tyrant officer in the army of Emir Bachir II.

A deep love and a national duty drew Mira to Sayf Elbahr and the rebels, as in classical drama.
Summer 840 is the story of starvation, unfair taxes and fatigue duty. It is the story of repression, and of a people who seeks to live in dignity and be free of tyrants and invaders. Yet, winds blow sometimes against sailors' will.

The peasants' revolution triumphed. Pasha Ibrahim was defeated, the Otttomans, the British nominated Emir Melhem Qassem to replace Emir Bachir the Second, and the peasants' leaders came back from Exile.

Sayf Elbahr, alone, refused to yield to the occupation and injustice. He raised the flag... determined to continue the rebellion on his own, saying: "An invader has left, and another came. I will fight until all invaders leave our land".

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