Kida Khodr Ramadan, star of the movie “Hijamat” about freedom, ready in jail

Kida Khodr Ramadan wants no introduction in Germany. And now, the favored star is all set to hit the worldwide movie pageant circuit!

The self-taught Ramadan made a reputation for himself as an actor, director and screenwriter, profitable a number of awards for his portrayal of Ali “Toni” Hamady, the chief of a Berlin drug cartel, within the German drama sequence. 4 blockswhich has additionally been found by an ever-growing worldwide viewers within the streaming period. He additionally brought about a sensation amongst personalities like Asbestosa drama sequence a few footballer whose desires of turning into an expert are shattered when he’s accused of a criminal offense by his uncle. Talking of damaged: that is precisely what the sequence did to set the document for the perfect begin ever for a sequence on public broadcaster ARD’s ARD Mediathek streaming service.

He adopted this success with one other success for ARD, specifically two seasons of Textual contentduring which he starred whereas co-writing and co-directing. The present follows 5 prisoners who rob a financial institution whereas on free entry. When a safety guard is by chance killed, he’s pressured to take hostages and the state of affairs shortly escalates.

Ramadan additionally directed the movie Unfoundedstarring Lilith Stangenberg as a girl in disaster and deciding to offer her new child up for adoption. The movie acquired rave opinions for its depth. The inventive went on to jot down, direct and star in Equalitythe psychogram of a father. He additionally dealt with all of this work on the TV film No orange bushes develop in Berlinwhich may be translated as No orange bushes develop in Berlin. He performs Nabil, who leaves jail after 15 years because of terminal most cancers and discovers that he has a daughter, to whom he needs to bequeath his share of the spoils of the theft that put him behind bars.

In brief, Ramadan completed and gained nearly every thing there was to attain and achieve in Germany.

Now he brings his means to slide into complicated characters to the household drama Hijamatwritten and directed by none aside from Nader Saeivar (The witness) and produced and edited by none aside from Jafar Panahi. Sure, that is the inventive duo who co-wrote the Cannes 2025 Palme d’Or winner It was simply an accidentwhich was nominated for 2 Academy Awards. The movie will likely be within the highlight throughout its world premiere at one of many oldest movie festivals on this planet, when it premieres on the sixtieth Karlovy Range Worldwide Movie Pageant (KVIFF) on Wednesday, July 8, as a part of the primary competitors of the Czech Crystal Globe pageant.

In HijamatRamadan performs Murad, who’s deeply shaken and struggles to guard his youthful brother Kerem, performed by Jael Cem Ilhan, when he learns that Kerem is homosexual. Lengthy-buried secrets and techniques threaten to tear his deeply spiritual Muslim household and their life in Berlin aside as he finds himself beneath strain from all sides, together with from his father, who has shut ties to the native imam. Nicolette Krebitz, Aziz Capkurt, Moritz Bleibtreu and Nastassja Kinski are additionally a part of the solid.

Ramadan, born in Lebanon earlier than his household moved to Germany when he was younger, took day out of his busy schedule to share with THR how he approached his starring position in Hijamatin collaboration with the well-known movie writers behind this movie, the problem of making ready the movie whereas serving a jail sentence, why performing is all about honesty and why Hijamat is a narrative of freedom.

How did you change into Murad and did you change into Hijamat?

Are you aware the Austrian director Marvin Kren? In 4 blocksat one level he made my character, Toni Hamady, a robotic. And I remembered it and felt it was a really comparable position.

Murad fights rather a lot for the household and does so many issues to make every thing work out. However he by no means even thinks about himself. And he does not see that he has an sickness. The truth is, it isn’t a illness; It’s a co-dependency. And he has ADHD.

Might you draw in your private expertise as a loving father to slide into the character of Murad?

The motto for me on this position was honesty and authenticity. I’ve household and kids myself. And I’ve brothers and sisters. And cinema is about honesty and authenticity. In case you’re not trustworthy in a movie, then it does not work – a minimum of for me.

I do not know why, however you, it appeared like a really bodily position to me, despite the fact that Murad does not run marathons or do massive fights. What do you assume?

I needed to play this position and never have a whole lot of dialogue. I targeted on expressing a whole lot of issues by way of the eyes, the physique and that honesty.

Nicely you managed to the touch me. I mentioned to myself a number of occasions, whereas watching Hijamat: Please, somebody give Murad a hug or one thing!

You understand, I have been ready for a hug since I used to be a baby. However the hug is there for me when I’ve a great script and a terrific director. And that was the case right here. I had a terrific director and a terrific script. I am an actor, I am a juggler and we play totally different roles. Right here we had a director who actually introduced a whole lot of emotion to the set.

When you’ve got a director who actually thanks you after each take and also you say thanks again, that is not frequent. I hardly ever had that in Germany, the place issues are extra technical. There was love and that human factor within the communication, and that’s artwork to me.

Do you know Nader Saeivar Earlier than Hijamatand the way have been you chosen for the position?

No, I used to be requested to play the position and I waited two years.

However throughout these two years, I used to be in jail for a 12 months. I thought of it rather a lot in jail and puzzled if I might make this movie. I get a whole lot of requests, however I actually needed to play this position as a result of it completely captivated me.

I actually wish to thank producer Mentioned Nur Akkuş for all his belief and for bringing me to this glorious undertaking and giving me the possibility to work with the unimaginable Nader Saeivar.

In Germany, you served a jail sentence for repeated driving with no license. Beneath this, you could possibly serve a sentence in a low-security facility and be granted permission to work in the course of the day and return at evening. Are you able to inform us somewhat bit about how this affected communication with the Hijamat the crew and your preparation?

Throughout my 12 months in jail, I had direct contact with the director and everybody. I’m very grateful for that. For me it was a query of confidence. I needed to put together in jail after which get into the position. The truth is, the primary days of filming befell whereas I used to be nonetheless in jail.

I additionally shortly acquired my driver’s license whereas I used to be in jail, as a result of I’ve a whole lot of automotive experience scenes within the movie, and I did not wish to be dubbed. I hate doubles. If anybody may be my double, it is one other Kida Khodr Ramadan.

Since we have been speaking about jail, I wish to ask you a query about somebody who is meant to go to jail, once more, in Iran. How effectively do you know Jafar Panahi’s movies earlier than agreeing to do it? Hijamat?

Sure, I noticed them. He at all times does excellent issues. They informed me that Panahi was a producer on this and that he would edit the movie.

Everybody requested me if I wasn’t afraid of being edited by Panahi. However why ought to I be afraid? I am prepared. Once I’m in costume and masks, I am prepared for the undertaking. Cinema is typically like love and struggle. We’ve to get out of it. You must belief your physique and it’s important to belief your soul. You must be current and within the second – ​​whether or not the editor is Hans-Peter or Panahi. I’m joyful to take part in a terrific movie written by Nader, who trusted me, and edited by Panahi.

Nader was my captain and we targeted on getting this ship again. It’s good to have the ability to simply give attention to that and immerse your self within the position.

My director fled his nation as a result of he didn’t have the correct to reside there with out fearing for his household. That is all so paradoxical.

Was being managed by Nader totally different out of your previous experiences?

Crucial factor was to grasp the system of an Iranian director and the way he works. Within the German system it’s totally totally different and we play in another way. I seen that the timing was crucial for the movie. Timing was extraordinarily necessary. We had a whole lot of distinctive takes, so that you simply need to be there and be prepared.

I really ate and slept higher throughout filming. It is crucial with a movie like this that you just’re in good psychological form. You want that power. In any other case, it is disrespectful to the viewers in case you do not present what you are able to do.

Inform me somewhat concerning the nice solid you’ve got round you Hijamat. Do you know Jael earlier than, for instance? I had by no means seen him earlier than. After which there are stars like Moritz Bleibtreu and Nastassja Kinski.…

No, I did not know Jaël, however he did his job so effectively. For me, it was actually necessary that all of us got here collectively, and I believe that is why it labored.

Nastassja Kinski is a good friend of mine. I requested Nader about him and he informed me I ought to carry him, which I did instantly. It is a legend. All of us admire Nastassja. After which I introduced in Moritz.

And I used to be very grateful, very grateful in reality, to have had such a great accomplice within the movie in Nicolette Krebitz. She gave me safety in my position. This was a vital level for me.

Faith performs a key however totally different position relying on the totally different characters in Hijamatbut it surely does not really feel like a film about faith. What position do you see faith taking part in within the movie?

Some individuals will in all probability confuse it with a non secular movie. For me, it is a movie about freedom. It has nothing to do with nationality or faith, however with individuals desirous to be free. And that was the theme for me. Freedom. An individual needs to be free, however he has his limits. And generally it’s important to transcend these limits.

I do not wish to hold you any longer, given all of your work and different commitments. What are you able to share with me concerning the initiatives you’re presently engaged on or making ready for?

I’ve executed a whole lot of directing, however now I wish to work extra as an actor once more. I am making ready for the lead position of Eyelash by Nuran David Calis, [a contemporary reimagining of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s Götz von Berlichingen].

After which I’ll shoot [a satire about a village thrown into disarray by the arrival of extraterrestrials] with the twins who made the sequence Die Discounter. I’ll play the primary character on this movie by Bruno Alexander and Emil and Oskar Belton. The movie known as Aliens on Meck-Pomm.