It’s been a good week for Lebanese actor Adel Karam. His Oscar-nominated film The Insult is in theatres in the UAE, and on March 1, he will become the first Arab comedian with a Netflix Original stand-up special, Adel Karam: Live From Beirut.
Karam’s one-hour show is in Arabic, subtitled for an international audience. The material is audacious, controversial and graphic, including a detailed recap of a colonoscopy.
But despite having more eyeballs on him than ever before, Karam went in without reservations. He joins the ranks of Dave Chapelle, Hasan Minhaj and Sarah Silverman, all of whom have Netflix specials.
The 45-year-old is also a regular on the MTV skit show Mafi Metlo. In 2007, he starred in the drama film Caramel, which screened at the Cannes Film Festival. Last year, he featured in The Insult, which is currently in the running for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards.
In a sit-down interview with Gulf News tabloid! on Sunday, Karam got candid about his biggest inspiration — and why reaching new heights without ditching his mother tongue is his proudest achievement.
When you found out you would be the first Arab comedian on Netflix, what was your main goal?
I didn’t want us to be silly, or not up to the standard. Today, the Netflix format is unmatched. The challenge was to do something that fits within Netflix but in our language — the Arabic language. They insisted on this.
Your comedic style is daring and direct. Did you have any hesitations about your material?
Not at all. I’ve been like this my whole life. I’ll never change. I’m known to be a daring guy — but I say things in a light-hearted way. I use phrases that maybe someone else wouldn’t dare use, but I use them in the right place. It’s not vulgar, you know? For that reason, maybe, Netflix chose me.
Where do you think your journey began?
To be honest, you’d have to go back 25 years with me. I’ve been on this path for 25 years. It’s something from God. You’re born with it. You don’t set out to be humorous or popular among people.
In the Arab world, comedy isn’t something that’s readily accepted.
True. It’s very difficult.
What was harder — to get your own family to accept it, or to get the outside world to accept it?
What’s hard is the people outside. At the end of the day, a person’s family, a person’s parents, they’ll accept him however he is. But for other people to accept me, to love me, that was the challenge.
In this region, we don’t have the same number of stand-up comedians, especially in the mainstream, as other parts of the world.
This a new line of work for us — the one-man show. We have made attempts, but to reach the global stage that we’re on today, that’s a difficult and new thing. What’s more difficult is you’re not doing it in English and fitting in with them... You have to get them to laugh from the subtitles!
When you were young, who was your model?
That was my father, God rest his soul. And my mother, too. She has a sense of humour. It runs in the family, as they say.
You dedicated this show to your father.
Always. Every show. Every show I do, I dedicate it to my father.
How come?
Because my father passed away early. He was 53 years old. It’s been almost 18 years now since he passed away. He helped me a lot, he supported me a lot. Today, in the Arab world, life is difficult for an entertainer. It’s not like the rest of the world. He stood by me tremendously. I was really attached to my father. He was my companion, my friend. Anything I do, any work I do, I dedicate it to his spirit.
Is there any other Arab comedian out there you’d like to see have their own stand-up show?
There’s no one specific, but I’m supportive of anyone today who is Arab; take me out of the equation — if there was anyone else who got this opportunity [with Netflix], I would be proud of them.
What would be your advice, to someone starting out?
It’s not easy to give advice, because everyone has their own character. The most important thing is to work on yourself, but listen to others. One hand can’t clap on its own. You need two hands to clap. And the more hands that are clapping, the louder the sound.
What’s your process, when you’re writing your material for the show?
I always work with things that have happened to me, but I look at them in a comedic sense. I shouldn’t just tell the story, I should act it. Believe me, what I’m presenting is tough. It takes a lot out of me. It takes a lot of effort and thought, but the results are always great. I tire myself out — any show I do, any material I want to write, it includes a lot of give and take. I’m always thinking about how to say a certain word, or where to place it, or what timing works best.
At any point, do you think, ‘Why am I torturing myself?’ Or is it worth it?
It’s worth it. [laughs] It’s my job!
The Insult just released here in the UAE. Between comedy and drama, is there one that comes more naturally to you?
A: Would you believe me that it’s both? Because I always put both within the category of ‘the actor’. Anything I present, it’s acting. Of course it’s me, but it’s also Adel Karam, the actor. It needs bodily effort, too.
Why do you think The Insult made an impression on the Academy Award committee?
The script, the story, the way it was directed, the way it was acted out — all these elements are on an elevated level. I think that’s what it is.
Do things like Oscar nominations matter to you?
Of course. Any actor’s dream is to reach the Oscars, which is the most prestigious award. Today, I’ve reached the Oscars in my own language. I didn’t act in an English film and speak in English to get nominated. No, I did it with my own strengths. I reached a global audience with Netflix in my own language. I reached the Oscars in my own language. It’s Adel Karam, the Arab. Not the Lebanese.
What’s your next big goal from here? Something you haven’t achieved yet that you’d like to achieve?
Everything I’m dreaming of is coming true. But I never drew out my life. I never said, ‘Here’s a goal, let me reach it.’ It happens spontaneously. I always hope for bigger and better things, and for global success. We’re getting there with our hard work. And it’s not just Adel Karam reaching the rest of the world, it’s the Arab people. We’re getting our voice out and they hear us. They’re the ones who are running after us, asking to work with us.
Would you encourage people to reach greater heights in their own language?
I don’t have to encourage — we are not missing anything to be better than them. When there is a will [there’s a way]. That’s all.
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Don’t miss it!
Adel Karam: Live from Beirut launches globally on Netflix on March 1. The Insult is currently in UAE cinemas.
