Proud of the progress and diversity of Arab drama

analyze, search, look Lebanese actress Carole Abboud He is always looking for new personalities to test himself with, and brings out his energy which is renewed with each work he performs. Abboud is currently having moments of bliss, having won the Best Performance award for her role in The film “The Blessing of the Bride”, from the Cairo International Film Festival in its 44th session, which recently concluded. The New Arab met with Abboud on the sidelines of his victory.

What does winning the Best Actor Award mean to you?

Thanks for your love, my feeling is indescribable. I am very happy with the award, especially since the film “Blessing the Bride” was new to me, as I see it as a silent film where I only speak four sentences. I thank all those in charge of the party for this award, which is close to my heart and it is enough for me that it comes from my beloved Egypt.

Is it difficult for the artist to communicate his message to the recipient when the language of dialogue is reduced in the work?

Of course, because the dialogue is direct and easy for the viewer to reach, but if the artist does not speak in a work except with very few words or sentences, this makes the task difficult for him, because he needs to use body language and of the eyes and all the impalpable sensations he possesses to be able to communicate with what he wants to say to the public. And thank God my character came this way.

What is director Bassem Breish’s goal in presenting a work closer to the silent?

Because silence in general makes you think, and the silent person in the eyes of others becomes mysterious and has secrets and things that are not evident in his life. The goal is to push the recipient to think about what this person who does not speak is hiding.

Filming started three years ago, so why so long?

We really started shooting in 2019, but there are events, as you all know, happened in Lebanon that contributed to the stop of shooting, such as the existence of a popular movement, road closures, then the spread of the Corona virus, and so on. But any delay is good and the premiere of the film took place in one of the oldest festivals in the Arab world which is the Cairo Film Festival.

Did you expect to receive an award from the festival?

I was confident in my work and the film I was submitting, and at first I expected to win, but with so many other works, great artists and very important films at the festival, the competition was tough. But thank God for the award, and I’m also happy that the film won three awards, including mine, because any success for any individual in the work is a success for everyone.

What prompted you to introduce the character “Salma” in the film?

The character touched me a lot, because she’s a lonely woman living within four walls in a remote area, she has her own secrets and her own story, and there comes a moment when she meets her daughter where everything turns upside down. The character is very close to my heart and difficult, and it’s enough for me that she hasn’t behaved like this throughout my artistic career.

Were the scenes in the film difficult?

A lot, because there’s no dialogue until I memorize it and say it, so the preparations needed a very great concentration, and this was in addition to some interruptions that the shooting witnessed, and we were shooting in a mountainous area which weather was very cold.

The series “Salon Zahra” is being shown to you currently in its second season, what are the responses you are getting about it?

Praise God, the answers are positive, and the first part has been a great success, continuing with the presentation of the second part, and the work is largely simple and light.

And the third part of the series “For Death”?

Soon I’m going to Tunisia to complete the shooting of my work scenes, and the character “Saria”, as I saw her in the first part, is facing several psychological crises. And the third part brings surprises, and there is a huge effort on the part of all those who participated, because the stories intertwine and the events are many.

Do you tend to do different parts of your series?

If you tolerate the presence of new parts there is no problem, but what is certain is that there are works whose events end with the last episode in its first part, so there is no need for elaborations, and I see that the series “For Death”, its events, as well as its characters and its stories, are composed of several parts.

Are you more inclined to TV series or movies?

According to what I am offered and like, I love both of them with all my heart, so the exchange is difficult, even if I present more fiction. In recent years, the level of Arab drama has become, without any exaggeration, global and I am very proud of this: there is a diversity of stories and anecdotes, many Arab joint works, digital platforms and short and long episodes. We have delicious and hearty meals.

See you soon in Egyptian works?

I see the matter has changed now, as the existence of digital platforms and their availability for many joint jobs has put an end to the notion of Egyptian, Syrian or Lebanese work and so on. I recently participated in the series “The Visit” with Egyptian actress Dina El-Sherbiny, and I also participated in the series “The Escape” with actors from Lebanon and different countries such as Egypt, and the director was the Egyptian, Mohamed Gomaa. Joint ventures and digital platforms have completely changed the course of things.

Interestingly, the film “Blessing the Bride” snatched three awards at the Cairo International Film Festival: the Best Performance Award for Carole Abboud, the Salah Abu Seif Award (Special Jury) and a Special Mention at the Best Film Competition arabic . The film stars – in addition to Abboud – Umayya Malaeb, Rabih Al-Zahr, Antoinette Novelli, Fadia Al-Tanir, Fadi Saqr, Nisreen Khader and Dana Dia. The film was produced by Jana Wahba for The Attic Company in collaboration with Metafora Art Production Company, written and directed by Bassem Breish, and Ghassan Salhab co-wrote the film.