The Kingdom (2007)
Operation: Kingdom
Das Interview with Ashraf Barhom
Ashraf Barhom
It's hard to promote a film as a supporting actor alongside superstars. Ashraf Barhom has the additional handicap, that he's an Arab from Israel making his very first film in Hollywood. During the Junket in Basle, Switzerland, he played the second fiddle next to Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner. Not every journalist got the order from his editors to chat with him and later on during Germany's largest TV-Show he had to sit in the crowd and not on the couch next to the host. On the other hand he didn't need an entourage inkluding bodyguards like the US-stars. He arrived with his agent only who sometimes helped him with the translations.
He turned out to be a very nice and intelligent guy. Up to now Barhom mostly worked for arab-israeli productions. Some of which won Awards at Festivals. The Syrian Bride (Prix du Public in Locarno) and Paradise Now (Panorama Audience Award in Berlin) are the most famous films, where he was part of the ensemble.
» Das Interview in deutscher Sprache
OutNow.CH (ON): Was making The Kingdom fun or hard work?
As Colonel Faris Al Ghazi
Ashraf Barhom (AB): It was both. I had the chance to play Ping Pong with Jamie Foxx and I played Basketball with the director Peter Berg. Fun behind the scenes. The hard moments were working in the heat and when we lost crew members who died during the shoot.
ON: Is ist true that you didn't know Jennifer Garner and Jamie Foxx before the film?
AB: That is correct. I felt comfortable at first but when I heard that Jamie Foxx won an Oscar and was generally a Big Name it was a challenge for me.
ON: For this film you visited the U.S. for the very first time. What was impression of the country?
AB: I already knew about the mentality of the people through movies so I understood why some of the things are in that way. America is a huge land and you see a lot of different things. Every area has a different environment.
Co-Producer Michael Mann - as you can see
ON: What was the hardest thing when entering the mind of a saudi official for you as an arab from Israel?
AB: I'm an Arab. So I knew the mentality. But Saudis have a different dialect. So I needed to learn how they behave, what their culture is based on. I had to learn how to fight because he is a soldier. Nothings was really hard but it needed an effort to get the details right and to convince.
ON: In real life you wouldn't be allowed to enter Saudi-Arabia as an Israeli citizen. Didn't it feel strange to play a Saudi for you?
AB: I asked myself if it really was the right role for me. But this was also what made the role challenging. In the end all of us are human beings and as an actor I want to play as many characters as possible - especially if they are very far from my persona.
"Nice hat!"
ON: What's the message of The Kingdom?
AB: The attitude of the script was to find a point where we could meet as different cultures, where we don't judge and take sides or justify. I believe the movie succeded in that. Killing will just provoke more killings. If we have to use violence we failed in using words. I hope we'll find a way to use words again instead of hands, airplanes or rifles.
ON: What were the reactions in the arab world so far?
AB: Actually all the people who have seen it liked it. But it wasn't released in the Middle East yet. I hope they will see it a step in the right direction. I can tell all people that we tried our best to make a balanced movie. A big step we already made is that the crew was changed.
ON: Can a movie chance opinons of people?
AB: It's a process and a very long one. One movie only cannot do much. I see art as an antithesis to politics. In politics you have to take a position. In art you always try to be neutral, but you bring an idea or an issue into the light. Good movies don't take positions. It's very sad to see movies that try to make propaganda. People are connected to movie stars, and if they take side in a sensitive issue they are able to influence people. It's important that we as actors are aware of that. We should build bridges and not destroy them.
Barhom during his stay in Basel
ON: Don't you mind that The Kingdom in in some regards a straight action-thriller?
AB: I'm not afraid that people will focus on the action. It was the perfect way to make this movie. Many people love action so you can reach more people this way. If you don't make it exiting you can't deliver the message. The action is just a tool. If somebody goes for the action he will learn that there is something more important.
