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A remarkable new Lebanese film, Nohad Al Chami: A Sign of Faith, is drawing audiences into a deeply personal and profoundly spiritual journey. Directed by Samir Habchi, the 90-minute biographical drama recounts the true story of Nohad Al Chami, a woman who suffered a debilitating stroke in the 1990s — and who later experienced what she and many others believe to be a miraculous healing, through the intercession of St. Charbel.
Now showing in cinemas across Lebanon, the film is set to be featured in select theaters in Canada and is expected to become available online for streaming soon. Viewers in the United States and other English-speaking countries are encouraged to stay tuned for international release updates.
The film stars Julia Kassar and Maya Yammine as Nohad Al Chami at different points in her life, with strong supporting performances from Yorgo Chalhoub, Melissa Aziz, and Theresia Tawk. It unfolds with grace and simplicity, choosing reverence over spectacle, and offers viewers a quiet space to encounter a story of hope that has touched the hearts of many in Lebanon and beyond.
Critics have praised the film for its understated style and contemplative pace. As read in Bélinda Ibrahim’s review for This is Beirut, the movie “does not seek to convince ... it simply tells a story.”
At the center of this story is St. Charbel Makhlouf, one of the most beloved saints of the Maronite Catholic Church. Born in 1828, Charbel lived much of his life as a hermit in the mountains of Annaya, Lebanon, dedicating himself to prayer, fasting, and silent communion with God. Following his death in 1898, countless testimonies of healing were attributed to his intercession, both in Lebanon and around the world.
Canonized in 1977 by Pope Paul VI, he continues to draw pilgrims of all backgrounds to his tomb. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms, “The saints have always been the source and origin of renewal in the most difficult moments in the Church’s history” (CCC 828).
Nohad Al Chami: A Sign of Faith doesn’t seek to dazzle — it invites. Through one woman’s intimate testimony, it offers a universal message: that faith, even in the face of suffering, still has the power to transform lives.
Whether you’re Catholic, spiritual, or simply open to stories that inspire, this film is a rare opportunity to witness a modern account of healing, grounded in one of Lebanon’s most cherished devotions.
Stay tuned for streaming release news and international screenings. This is a story that deserves to be seen—and shared.
