In the spirit of the 1940s, “Darwish” offers a cinematic experience that transports viewers back to another era. Written by Wissam Sabry and directed by Walid El Halfawy, the film stars Amr Youssef, Dina El Sherbiny, Tara Emad, Mustafa Gharib, Mohamed Shaheen, and Khaled Kamal. The film opened in cinemas in mid-August, achieving remarkable audience turnout.
Actress Tara Emad spoke to Fasila about her experience in the film and her portrayal of the character “Kariman,” revealing the behind-the-scenes details of the preparations for the work and how the character influenced her artistic choices.
Tara explained that in the film, she plays the character of “Kariman,” a woman from a different era, characterized by psychological balance, dignity, and calmness—traits that drew her strongly to the character. She described “Kariman” as an inspiring character with a comforting and influential presence among those around her, despite the fact that she can sometimes make rash decisions, which gives her a deeper and more contradictory human character.
Tara stated that preparing for the role required going back to films from the 1940s, watching numerous films to study dialogue styles, body language, dress styles, and daily interactions. She noted that this viewing was extremely helpful in creating a true sense of the historical period and helped her accurately construct her internal and external performance.
She emphasized that she did not request any modifications to the script, as she felt it was carefully written and in keeping with the nature of the time period. She explained that sometimes she would encounter a word or expression that didn’t flow easily, so she would communicate with the director or screenwriter to arrive at a more appropriate formulation without compromising the spirit of the text. She considered this spontaneous collaboration to reflect a work environment based on respect and the exchange of ideas.
Preparation wasn’t limited to the psychological aspect, but extended to the outward appearance. She worked with a stylist responsible for selecting clothing, colors, accessories, and even hairstyles appropriate for the era. She emphasized that the moment she looked in the mirror after putting on the costumes and makeup gave her a sincere sense that she had truly become “Kariman.”
The film “Darwish” had its special screening in Riyadh last Tuesday, days after its release in Egyptian cinemas on August 13. It topped the box office, grossing approximately EGP 16,236,000 in its first week, selling 105,800 tickets. The film revolves around a charming con man who lives a life full of challenges and dangers. By chance, he becomes a popular hero, changing his life forever.
Concluding her talk, she expressed her eager anticipation for the release of her new film, “The Seven Dogs,” starring Ahmed Ezz and Karim Abdel Aziz, and directed by Adel and Bilal, the directors of “Bad Boys 3.” Tara emphasized that this work is completely different from “Darwish,” as it combines drama and suspense, and she sees it as a new step in her artistic career that she hopes will be appreciated by audiences and critics.
Read also: Amr Youssef: “Darwish” is a project that has been postponed for four years.