Struggling with a failing economy and underperforming or inadequate public services and divided over the not always welcome interference of two rival regional powers, many Lebanese hoped that elections in May 2018 (the first in almost a decade) might jolt the state's political establishment into addressing their many problems.

Others were more pessimistic, seemingly unconvinced that anything would change in a country where power is generally apportioned along sectarian or dynastic lines and corruption is widespread.

In the event, apathy won the day. Turnout was low and although some parliamentary seats changed hands, to nobody's great surprise little beyond that seems to have changed.

So what is it about politics in this nation of six million people [≈ population of Libya, nation] that makes it so resistant to change? We sent filmmaker Nada Issa to find out.