‘A Sad and Beautiful World’ (Arabic Name: Noujoum el Amal) a Lebanese Film by Cyril Aris.
A must-see film in cinemas across Lebanon starting Today January 29th
An About Productions film “A Sad and Beautiful World” (AKA: Noujoum el Amal) received impressive critical acclaim and is the official 98th Academy Awards entry for Lebanon. The movie follows the story of Nino and Yasmina, played by Hasan Akil and Mounia Akl respectively. Across three decades of passion, loss and hope, the two are bound by a magnetic relationship. Torn between love and survival, they must decide whether to build a family and seek happiness in Lebanon or leave their home amid the country’s unfolding tragedies.
As Aris puts it, it’s a story that “jumps through time,” documenting major milestones in recent Lebanese history on the way. It is in parallel a story of a couple set within the greater context of a struggling country, as they themselves become a reflection of the social context that they live in.
The movie premiered at the 82nd Venice Film Festival in August’25 where it won the People’s Choice Award. It was followed by screening in London, Hamburg, Sao Paolo, and Saudi Arabia where it picked up an impressive number of awards including: The Snow Leopard for best film at the Asian World Film Festival, Best Screenplay at the Red Sea International Film Festival, Best Film at the Bastia Mediterranean Film Festival, Hamburg Producers Award at the Hamburg Film Festival, Best Film Music at the Montepellier Mediterranean Film Festival, and Best Foreign Language Film at the Palm Springs International Festival.
Starring:
Mounia Akl, Hassan Akil , Julia Kassar, Camille Salameh, Omar Layza, Nadyn Chalhoub, Tino Karam
Produced by Abbout Productions (Lebanon), Co-produced by Cinenovo (France) and Reynard Films (Germany), this film is not to be missed.
You can watch the film as of today January 29th, 2026, at any of the below locations:
ABC (Achrafieh, Dbayeh and Verdun)
Beirut Souks – Downtown
Vox Cinema – Hazmieh Le Mall – Dbayeh
Metropolis Cinema – Mar Mikhael – Achrafieh