who dared to dream of a better world.
Based on the TRUE STORY of a man who
In 1930s America, when a Lebanese scientist on the verge of a solar energy breakthrough loses his company’s support, he must find other ways to pursue his vision, but finds himself going against a larger threat than he realized.
FORMAT
Feature Film
SETTING
USA (New York), Lebanon
PERIOD
1905-1935
GENRE
Biographical Period Drama
Also known as Hassan Kamel Al-Sabbah
Camil A. Sabbah
Sabbah was a Lebanese electrical engineer, mathematician, and inventor, holding over 40 patents that advanced 20th-century technology, especially solar power. His lifelong dream was to cover the desert with solar cells to generate vast amounts of free energy.
Despite his achievements, Sabbah remains under-appreciated, partly due to his Lebanese origins and the blatant racism he faced in the US. His progress didn’t shield him from alienation. In his final letter to his family, he expressed fear for his life, only two days before his mysterious car accident in upstate New York in 1935.
INTRODUCTION
CHARACTERS
Camil Sabbah
Camil is a hard-working, ambitious electrical engineer and inventor who tries to find solutions to things most people don’t perceive as problems. When you question everything, especially other people’s work, you don’t tend to make a lot of friends.
Camil is lonely and keeps to himself. Why would he want to be friends with people that don’t even consider him their equal? Regardless, Camil always tries to remain courteous, respectful and well-mannered.
United States
80% Main Story
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Lebanon
20% Backstory
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Uncle
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SHORT SYNOPSIS
PROJECT ADVISORS
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Based in Nabatieh (Lebanon), Dr. Wehbe dedicated most of his life to research pertaining to his hometown’s famous inventor. He helps maintain Sabbah’s statue, tomb and mausoleum, and is known as the town’s best resource and expert on Sabbah.
HISTORY
ARCHIVES
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Based in Nabatieh (Lebanon), Dr. Wehbe dedicated most of his life to research pertaining to his hometown’s famous inventor. He helps maintain Sabbah’s statue, tomb and mausoleum, and is known as the town’s best resource and expert on Sabbah.
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Based in Nabatieh (Lebanon), Dr. Wehbe dedicated most of his life to research pertaining to his hometown’s famous inventor. He helps maintain Sabbah’s statue, tomb and mausoleum, and is known as the town’s best resource and expert on Sabbah.
CREATIVE
SCIENCE
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Based in Nabatieh (Lebanon), Dr. Wehbe dedicated most of his life to research pertaining to his hometown’s famous inventor. He helps maintain Sabbah’s statue, tomb and mausoleum, and is known as the town’s best resource and expert on Sabbah.
RESEARCH
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From a collection of books and articles, a valuable ensemble of publicly available information to cross-check and confirm what is already known and what many believe has happened to Sabbah.
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An invaluable resource dating and detailing all of the patents that Sabbah registered during his employment at General Electric in Schenectady.
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MiSci has granted access to an incredible archive of materials relating to the history of General Electric, its technologies, Schenectady, and Sabbah.
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AUB, where Sabbah used to study and teach in 1921, holds an invaluable collection of archives including articles, newspapers and other information on Sabbah.
Short Film (2024)
A shorter and more dramatized version of the story was completed in 2024 with the support of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and BAFTA.
