Roland Eid presents Charbel, The Movie
“The life of Saint Charbel on big screen as you have never seen it before!”
A film by Nabil Lebbos
Executive Producers: Ghada Daghfal & Michel Abou Sleiman
“The life of Saint Charbel on big screen as you have never seen it before!”
A film by Nabil Lebbos
Executive Producers: Ghada Daghfal & Michel Abou Sleiman
Screenplay by Mounir Maasri
Based on the historical episodes recorded on Saint Charbel’s life and missions both on Earth and in Heaven, Father Hanna Iskandar wrote what has become the most comprehensive single documented reference on Saint Charbel in his book “Charbaliat 7”. Edited for the requirements of movie – making, a screenplay was written by Mr. Mounir Massri under the supervision of Father Yohanna Khawand.
Film Credits
Production Notes
The magnitude of Charbel’s production required a significant number of actors and cast to which, by the final shooting day, more than 400 had taken part in the film. More than 600 potential participants were considered for various roles before reaching this figure. Nothing was spared in the making of Charbel. It is the pride of the whole Lebanese film industry.
Re-producing a credible 19th century environment required a tailor-made set of clothing for the majority of scenes. Outsourcing of special items reached as far as Turkey, while authentic artifacts, tools and utensils were meticulously selected from both local and neighboring markets.
Dozens of original 19th century’s sets had to be built and re-shaped to suit the purposes of stage design. Many churches and houses had to be redecorated to relieve scenes from the aspects of modern civilization.
Hundreds of potential locations, from convents and monasteries to schools, old houses, forests, sea shores, grottoes and landscapes, were studied and screened before selecting the key 25 locations for filming. These ranged from Nahr el Dahab-Ehmez to Mairouba, Ehmej, Bmehrin, Ballouneh, Roumieh, Jbeil, Chekka, Raashin, Eghbeh, Ghazir, Ghosta, Ainwaraka, Bsarma, Kozhaia, Laklouk, Ehden, Tannourin Cedars, Ashkout, Bekaata, Amchit and finally Bkerki.
Special thanks are due to the Lebanese Army for their volunteering of helicopter services dedicated to shooting special scenes above the cedars of Mount Tannourine.
Film Production Set Pictures
A unique collection of 228 pictures available now on Flickr.
The Director, Nabil Lebbos
A graduate in Music Studies from Kaslik University and holder of a Film Director degree from the German University in Jounieh, the young and promising Nabil Lebbos has completed Charbel with devout passion. His combined musical and audio-visual background was manifested time and again in productions such “Encounter with Christ”, “Mouftarak Tarik”, and more than 25 contemporary musical video clips, Nabil Lebbos has grasped this first silver screen experience with passion, planting his creativity in every scene, and turning Charbel into his career highlight.
Nabil Lebbos
Antoine Balabane (Old Father Charbel)
An Architect and Civil Engineer by education, Antoine Balabane’s calling for a fabulous career on stage goes as far back as 1969 with his contribution to the founding of Lebanon’s Theatre Performing Movement. From Shayot Theatre in Paris to Lebanon’s Al Madina Theater, all the way to Lebanese and Iranian small screen performances, Antoine Balabane’s career is rich with star performances such as Le Paravent by Jean Jenet and Jean Batiste Sartre, Hayet Bteswa Franko by Usama El Aaref and Betty Toutel, Jnaynet El Sanaye by Roger Assaf, El Beit El Zaher by Jumana Haji Touma and Khalil Jreij, The Last Trip Of Sindibad – an Iranian film by Orosh Maarian – as well as the Lebanese TV Productions of Ghannojet Baya, Men Barsouni, and Mada El Omr. The screenplay role of Father Charbel in his old age found in Antoine Balabane the right venerate complexions, serene features, and abundance of experience.
Antoine Balabane
Julia Kassar ( Charbel’s Mother)
A successful actress of high standing, Julia Kassar’s 20-year career is highlighted by many a complex role that require fervor and personified passion. Winner of the French Ceasar Award in 2006 for her role in After Shave by Hani Tomba, Julia Kassar is a familiar and well-loved face on Lebanon’s stages and TV screens, contributing and starring in: Al Khadimatan by Jawad El Asadi, Tayara Men Warak by Randa El Shahhal, Zennar El Nar by Mr Behij Hojeij, Tokous El Isharat Wal Tahawoulat by Ms Nidal El Achkar, Mara Lawahda by Lina Abiad, Picnic a Khtout El Tamas by Mr Reymond Jebara and Perfect Day by Jouana Haji Touma and Khalil Jreij.Julia’s ardor was evident time and again in every shot of motherhood to young Charbel.
Julia Kassar
Elie Mitri (Young Charbel)
One of Lebanon’s most talented young actors, Elie Mitri had graduated in 2003 from the Faculty of Art at the Lebanese University and has ever since starred in many roles requiring adequate personal composure in complex situations. From Fares Khalil’s Amour D’enfants to Micheal Kammoun’s Falafel, Gabriel Yammine’s Hadara and Micheal Adabachi’s Harika, Elie Mitri has molded his screen capabilities and experimented with various personalities with proven capability in capturing audience attention. Playing out Charbel’s youth, Elie Mitri personified the character with the appropriate psyche, bodily postures, and eyes that speak.
Elie Mitri
Telecine Production by VTR Beirut
One of the Middle East’s leading all-digital facilities, VTR Beirut was entrusted to compile Charbel’s final production into the Tele-Cinema environment. The firm’s complete service range and world-standard state-of-the-art equipment is operated by highly talented local and international staff. Thanks to VTR Beirut, Charbel’s online editing and Smoke effects were completed with fine and professional High Definition creativity.
Audio by Red Studios
The first digital audio studio in Lebanon providing Dolby 5.1 Surround effects of European quality standards, Red’s Studios have already contributed sound engineering and audio production services for a number of Lebanese films amongst which are Leilet Eid, Khalleek Mai and Madam Bambino. Specialized in music and sound track production for theater movies, Red’s state-of-the-art equipment and specialized sound engineers have produced Charbel’s theater surround-sound effects with great talent and professionalism.
Music by Teddy Nasr
Music for Charbel had to be composed with delicate purity, momentous grandeur, and intense passion. The young Lebanese artist Teddy Nasr was selected amongst many to produce what was a significant component of Charbel’s success. A performing pianist, drummer, percussionist, guitarist, and as of late, an opera singer, conductor, composer and arranger, Teddy Nasr is easily one of the most promising young film composers and opera singers of our time. His calling for music has found in Charbel an opportunity to manifest itself with much grandeur.
Teddy Nasr
