A COMEDIAN IN A SYRIAN TRAGEDY

Synopsis: This documentary is a chronicle of a revolution and war, experienced by the famous Syrian actor Fares Helou. Fares’ life changed radically when he joined the people in the streets of Damascus calling for the fall of the Syrian regime. He immediately had to go underground, and director Rami Farah joined him in hiding with a camera. When Fares had to flee from Syria to France, Rami followed him. However, neither the actor nor the director had a script for the new chapter in their lives: exile. A chapter full of questions, disappointments and alienation, but also of absurdity and cultural confusion that calls for laughter. “A Comedian in a Syrian Tragedy” is an intimate observation of the psychological violence and the exiled existence experienced by the director and his favorite actor.

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Director’s biography: Rami Farah is a Syrian filmmaker, actor and performer, born in 1980 and currently based in Paris. He first studied dance in Damascus at the High Institute for Dramatic Arts and has attended many training courses and workshops in contemporary film and dance. His first films and videos both use a blend of dance and audiovisual material. “ZamKan”, made in 2004, unfolds as a dialogue between a ceiling fan and a chair in a silent room. It was followed by “Point”, a short arts video that was screened in several exhibitions and festivals around the world.