Fares Helou is a Syrian comedian and actor who was born in Tartous, Syria, on August 15, 1961. He began his career as a performer in the 1980s and initially worked on stage. He soon began to get television roles and has also acted in several cinema releases. He one of Syria’s most recognizable celebrities but he was also outspoken about politics. As he was living in a country that was troubled by political unrest, he was forced to flee from Damascus to Paris to live in exile. Although he thought this would be a temporary measure, France soon became his home. Al-Helou is now best-known for his ‘The Box of Life’, ‘Le Bureau des Légendes’, and ‘Al-Iail’. Here are five things you probably don’t know about Fares Helou.
1. He Attended the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts
After leaving school, Fares Helou was a student at the Higher Institute for Dramatic Arts in Damascus, Syria. This establishment was founded in 1977 and has three departments; acting, dramatic arts, and theatrical critique. It was the first educational establishment in Syria to look at theatre and drama from an academic viewpoint. Students of the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts have held performances of their work in Kuwait, Lebanon, Germany, and Egypt. Fares Helou graduated in 1984.
2. His First Feature Film Was ‘The Night’
The first feature film in which Fares Helou appeared was ‘The Night’. This Syrian drama film was released in 1992 in Syria. It was the second film that was directed by Mohammed Malas. It is about the Arab-Israeli conflict and was set in Queneitra. The film won the Tainte d’Or Award at the Carthage Film Festival in 1992. It was shown at the New York Film Festival in 1993 and was the first Syrian film to achieve this accolade.
3. He Was in a Ballet-Opera
Although he cannot dance, he was once in a ballet-opera. He played the role of the storyteller in ‘Days and Nights of the Heart’. This theatrical project was written and composed by Tarik Benouarka, a Franco-Algerian writer and composer. The ballet-opera is written in the Arabic language and combines classical music, dance, poetry, and opera singing.
4. ‘A Comedian in a Syrian tragedy’ is About His Life
Rami Farah has directed a documentary called ‘A Comedian in a Syrian Tragedy’ that is being pitched at IDFA Forum. It is about the experiences of Farah and Helou’s experiences of leaving Syria and rebuilding their lives in France. Farah wanted to let the world know what was happening to him and to many others from countries facing political unrest. He found Fares Helou who was already a television star in Syria and used him for his leading man. The documentary was filmed using a hand-held camera.
5. He Has Appeared in Many Theater Productions
Although he is best-known for his work in television, Fares Helou began his professional life in the theatre. He appeared in many productions during the 1980s and early 1990s. These included ‘Chronicle of a Death Untold’, ‘The Cave Dwellers’, and The Adventure of the Head of Mamlouk Jabir’. After many years away from the theatre, he returned to take part in the 2015 production ‘Les Jours et les Nuits de l’Arbre Coeur’.
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