An Article by A. V. (801 words, 4 min. read)
In the heart of a city that has endured decades of turmoil, Beyrouth Malgré Tout (“Beirut, Despite Everything”) emerges as a graphic testimony of resilience. Published by Steinkis in September 2024, this powerful graphic novel recounts the true story of Dr. Robert Sacy, a Lebanese pediatrician whose life reflects the scars, struggles, and hopes of modern Lebanon.
Born in Beirut in 1950, Dr. Sacy lived through the Lebanese Civil War, the painful years of post-war reconstruction, and the dreams and disillusionments of the 21st century. Deeply committed to social justice in a country where inequality is systemic, he took an unprecedented step in 2016: founding one of the first public pediatric healthcare services in Beirut. It was more than a hospital—it was a gesture of resistance, of humanity, and of love for his homeland.
He trained generations of young medical students within its walls. While many of them left the country in search of stability, he stayed. His words, filled with both tenderness and determination, captured his belief in Lebanon:
“Mais maintenant ma vie est ici. C’est mon pays. Je l’aime malgré tout. Mais assez ! Il faut avancer, voir le bon côté des choses quand même. Demain d’ailleurs, c’est l’inauguration du nouveau bâtiment.”
(“But now, my life is here. This is my country. I love it despite everything. But enough! We have to move forward, see the bright side of things. Tomorrow, by the way, is the inauguration of the new building.”)
From Devastation to Drawing Board
Then came the explosion. On August 4, 2020, the port of Beirut was devastated by one of the most powerful non-nuclear blasts in history. The hospital Dr. Sacy built, the very symbol of his lifetime of service, was reduced to rubble.
It was amid these ruins that French correspondents Sophie Guignon and Chloé Domat met the doctor—dazed, grieving, yet still standing. What began as a tragic encounter became the foundation for Beyrouth Malgré Tout, a compelling narrative of Lebanon’s recent history told through Dr. Sacy’s eyes. From the civil war to the 2019 protests, from economic collapse to the haunting aftermath of the port explosion, the book lays bare a country in crisis.
The storytelling is brought to life by the pen of Kamal Hakim, a Beirut-born graphic novelist with a background in political science and a love for drawing shaped by years in Canada. His illustrations—deeply influenced by artists like Joe Sacco and Marjane Satrapi—do more than depict events; they carry emotion, memory, and silence. The shadows of destroyed buildings, the determined eyes of protestors, and the delicate lines of Beirut’s skyline evoke both mourning and resistance.
Dr. Sacy, always humble and curious, once said to the authors with a spark in his eye:
“Hâte de voir comment vous allez me dessiner.”
(“Can’t wait to see how you’re going to draw me.”)
Tragically, he never saw the finished book.
A Legacy Beyond the Pages
On May 10, 2024, Dr. Robert Sacy passed away of a heart attack. He never held the book in his hands. But his spirit lives on—not only through its pages but through ASSAMEH – Birth and Beyond, the association he founded, which continues to operate and serve the children of Lebanon in the very spirit he instilled: care, equity, and compassion.
Beyrouth Malgré Tout became more than a book. It became a portrait, a memory, and a farewell. A tribute to a humanitarian, a pediatrician, and a patriot Lebanon will never forget.
An Exhibition of Memory and Tribute
As part of the Rendez-vous Beyrouth Livres organized by the Institut Français du Liban, No/Mad Utopia hosted an emotional exhibition at their space in Gemmayze. A selection of the most emblematic pages from the book was presented to the public, not only as art, but as remembrance. The opening took place in the presence of the author Sophie Guignon, alongside illustrator Kamal Hakim.
The evening included a poignant conference where the creators spoke about their experience with Dr. Sacy, the writing and drawing process, and the painful yet essential act of telling the story of Lebanon through one man’s journey. A book signing followed, where the public, touched and inspired, engaged with the authors to honor the memory of the man behind the ink and lines.
In a place where hope and loss are constant companions, Beyrouth Malgré Tout is a necessary tribute. It is a declaration that even in devastation, stories endure, and so do the people who live them. Dr. Robert Sacy’s life may have ended before the book reached him, but his mission, his voice, and his love for his country resonate on every page.
