Istanbuli: This is My Resistance Approach
Passing by the enormous picture of the young hero, who represented a major turning point in the history of conflict with the Zionist enemy, he used to admire him. Every time he headed towards Beirut from the southern city of Tyr, he passed through the Jal el-Baher area. In that area, the headquarters of the Zionist military ruler was located, and then demolished by a self-sacrifice martyr in November 11, 1982. Over there, he used to recognize the hero through his picture, and from his story, emerged a relation based on a cause of a homeland.
From this relation, theater actor and director Qassem Istanbuli, who lived in Tyr and witnessed the calamities and victories of the south, accepted to play a role in the series al-Ghaliboun (Arabic for The Victors), which was broadcasted during the holy month of Ramadan.
According to Istanbuli, the assistant director of the series called him and asked him to take part. "I agreed directly, and I didn't talk about details. I didn't even know I was going to play the role of martyr Ahmad Kassir", he said.
"It was a great surprise later that I was chosen to play this role, for I had personality traits close to that of the character", Istanbuli stated.
The Lebanese actor and director stated that his happiness to take the role of a character, which is still embedded in the minds of the people, did not cancel the difficulty of the role.
"The challenge here is hard because one should impersonate this symbolic character, and express it in a way it deserves", he said.
Qassem Istanbuli noted that accepting the role was not subjected to any financial agreements.
"I accepted the role without any hesitation. My admiration for Ahmad Kassir made me accept the role, despite the circumstances and atmosphere that would accompany any work of art and drama", Istanbuli affirmed.
Therefore, since before he accepted the role, Qassem Istanbuli regarded Ahmad Kassir as that "young man of the huge picture, the first self-sacrifice martyr, and the symbol of resistance and martyrdom". After Isnabuli accepted to play the role, he got to know Martyr Ahmad Kassir better, getting deeper involved in the details of this martyr's life and character.
Moreover, what helped Istanbuli to perform the role and succeeding in it was the social environment, cultural and ideological background.
He is the son of the south, who graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts in the Lebanese University. He then paved his career with a special leap in the resistance theater, performing a play called "Victory Wedding" in southern towns, villages, and even in Beirut.
The play illustrated a story of a student in the Faculty of Sciences, who was martyred during the July 2006 war, while confronting the Zionist enemy.
On this level, Istanbuli clarified, "I wanted to deliver a different culture stating that these resistance fighters are education seekers. Martyrdom is not for the love of death, fire, or war, but it is for the love of life and continuity of others. This is my path and approach".
The Lebanese southerner actor went on to say, "What helped me in impersonating the character of Martyr Ahmad Kassir, who was attached to Allah (God) and lived in a different period of time, were the many stories I heard from the people of the region while preparing for other performances of the same approach".
Qassem Istanbuli is an actor with a package full of theater works that demonstrate national and Arab causes. What distinguished the work of Istanbuli is performing on the "streets".
The lead of his work was the play entitled "Qum Yaba" (Arabic for "Stand Up Father"); which points up the Palestinian uprising, where he acted the role of martyr Mohammad Al-Dorra's father. The said play was performed outside the Egyptian Embassy, and the US Embassy in Lebanon.
The latest of his theater work is the play "Zanga Zanga" that demonstrates the Arab revolutions, in which he plays the role of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Through this live impersonation of the current Arab reality, Istanbuli warns of the "danger coming to the region and of the colonialism culture".
On the annual Martyr Day, actor Istanbuli heads towards the origin village of Martyr Ahmad Kassir, hoping to meet his parents.
"On the martyr day, and on the martyrdom anniversary of the first self-sacrifice martyr, we can't but continue on this approach and path. We should remember all those who sacrifice their blood, and every martyrdom that granted us continuity", Istanbuli confirmed.
Also, he added, "The resistance proved that one can't preserve dignity but through preserving resistance. It has built a generation attached to the resistance and homeland, and all this is for Lebanon to remain and for the Lebanese people to live with dignity and pride".
The actor of martyr Ahmad Kassir addressed the leader of the resistance and all fighters defending their country saying, "I praise all the resistance and Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who represents honor. All the pride and dignity are derived from him and from everyone who presented his blood and martyred".
Source: Al Intiqad Online Newspaper, Translated by moqawama.org team
