Inside one of Beirut's oldest cinemas, displaced people from the Israel-Hezbollah war spend their time following the news on their phones. The massive displacement has provided a boost for the commercial district of Hamra Street, but it has also brought chaos and tensions. Hamra Street has long been a bellwether for Lebanon's politics and has witnessed rises and falls over the years. The influx of displaced people has transformed the street, with businesses experiencing a surge in demand before stagnating again. The Lebanese actor Kassem Istanbouli has turned his theaters into shelters for those fleeing the war.