Movie“This role is deeper than any ever before, and only Abou can throw himself into it physically and mentally.” Praise from Adil & Bilall about their protagonist Aboubakr Bensaihi (26). The fact that the actor is also from Molenbeek and went through the same problems as the directors, earned him the role of Syria fighter Kamal Wasaki.
For the recordings of ‘Rebel’, Aboubakr partly stayed in his hometown of Molenbeek, although the best part was canned in Jordan. “Adil and Bilall have found neighborhoods that seemed straight out of the civil war in Syria”, says the actor who we know from his starring role in ‘Black’ seven years ago – also from Adil & Bilall. “During the recordings, it really felt like we were in the middle of the war. Explosions here and there, everything was real. Incroyable. They didn’t even work with a green key.” Well with the Jordanian army, as it turns out. “Even the special forces helped put together all the war scenes. After those shooting days I really needed time to recover, so intense.”
See also: ‘Rebel’ premieres
It even went so far for the actor that a fight scene where his nose was broken, he also ended up in the rag basket in real life. “We had rehearsed that scene a hundred times and on the first shot, bám, nose broken. That shot ended up being in the movie too, that was cooler than faking it (laugh).” Although he had to be serious about it. “After that admission, I had to go to the hospital in Jordan and they operated on my nose. So I finished all other shots afterwards with an operated nose. Spicy, but according to Adil and Bilall my nose looks better now (laughs).”
While his role in ‘Black’ was still at primary school level, Aboubakr is at university level compared to ‘Rebel’. The twenty-something specially learned to ride a motorcycle, learned to dance according to the choreographies of Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui – he already worked with Beyoncé – and wrote the pieces of rap music that you hear during the film. “So this role is not just acting,” he says. “I am delighted that Adil and Bilall have given me this opportunity, which is a great honour. And it is a very nice business card. Perhaps we will continue this in a few years.”
Also watch the trailer of ‘Rebel’
ALSO READ:
Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone praises Adil and Bilall’s ‘Rebel’: “What a powerful film”
IN PICTURE. New love for Fabrizio and pregnant girlfriend Mathias Coppens at premiere Rebel
Adil and Bilall want to wash away their grief with ‘Rebel’: “When the news about ‘Batgirl’ came, I went to talk to Will Smith” (+)
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and don’t miss out on any of the stars.