February 2008 | blackfilm.com | features | LIVE AND BECOME

LIVE AND BECOME
An Interview with Sirak Sabahat
By Wilson Morales

February 26, 2008

For a lot of actors, getting a role in their first film is a dream come true. It’s what they worked hard for. It’s one thing if the role is small or maybe a cameo, but when it’s one of the lead roles, it’s big deal. For Sirak Sabahat, not only was ‘Live and Become’ his first film that also came with a lead role, but it was also a film that was close to the heart.

Live and Become begins in 1985 when the massive airlift of Ethiopian Jews fleeing oppression, “Operation Moses,” is at its peak. One young Jewish boy, marked for rescue, dies as the story begins and another, a Christian, is placed in line by his starving mother with the tacit cooperation of the dead boy’s mother. He knows only that he is being cruelly separated from his mother, and that he must never ever reveal his true identity or religion to anyone. His mother commands him, “Go. Live and Become.” He obeys, though he does not understand. Adopted by a socially minded but non-religious Jewish family – who ironically worry that they aren’t devout enough for their new charge – young Schlomo (played over the years by actors Moshe Agazai, Mosche Abebe and Sirak Sabahat) grows up having to deal with the burden of his deception, the skin color that defines his outsider status, his secret longing for his homeland, but also a sincere, complex identification with the tenets of Judaism he comes to know.

In real-life Sabahat is a Chabashi Ethiopian Jew, who much like his character left for Israel and lost many friends and family, but has gone on to be a fine actor. He has received many accolades for his performance in the film, including being the first Ethiopian ever nominated for an Israeli Oscar.

In speaking to blackfilm.com, Sabahat talks about the journey he has taken with this film and what he hopes others will get out of it.

This has been a long journey for you. Can you briefly talk how and why you got involved with the film?

Sirak Sabahat: The process of doing this film was an incredible experience for me. When I came to Israel when I was 11 ½ years old, and we came to a new place and new society, we were trying to find out our voices, so when this film came, it was a great opportunity to present and to talk about people who are questioning themselves everyday as to who they are. It was a long journey for me because I had to deal with my own private story, with my own private emotions. This film was very important in the matter of trying to educate people about different people, about different cultures, and at the end of the day, we are all the same and that we are all searching for the same answers.

Being that you is so personal to you, how do you walk away and do your next project?

SS: It’s like any other thing. You have to grow. You have to understand that your past is your past, and you don’t have to forget your past. You must bring your past to be part of your future. Just remain who you are. For my project, it won’t change where I started and what was my mission as an artist. Through theater or film, you can change people’s lives. It’s not just a showcase, it’s much more bigger than that. We must grow. No matter what difficulties one has in his life, you must grow to move.

For a film that was show close to four years ago, it certainly has strong legs in that it has traveled all over the world and received numerous acclaim.

SS: Yes, it has traveled all over the world and received great success, but it was a struggle to bring it to the United States. As you know, it’s tough to bring over and sell foreign films here, so I was very delightful that it arrived here. When you have a good thing, it will remain around for a long time. The audience will have the pleasure to discover why this film has stuck with people.

What aspect of the film did you remember the most?

SS: When we filmed the camps. I’ve been talking about this issue for a long time and when we shot the scene we had used real people and for most of them, it was reliving the past. It was a learning experience for me and at the same time, the emotions were quite enormous. We were recreating a vision, recreating the past, and these were difficult things that people had to deal with. After twenty years, the camps are still there and folks are still trying to find a life. Some memories still attack you because the reality remains the same.

Has race become a factor when you are looking for work?

SS: Of course, there are a few difficulties about that subject, but at the end of the day, you have to ask yourself, what is the purpose? What is it that you are trying to have and what is it that you are trying to create, and I know may people who are in this business for the same reasons, to express yourself. There are people who put barriers because I’m from a different culture and race, but I truly believe that there other forces in this world who will see the goodness in people and that’s greater than the forces who try and create a barrier. You have to focus yourself on the negative and the positive and the vision because with my story, I’m not trying to be something that I’m not. Like I said before, my past is so strong, I need it to move to the future.

What are you currently up to?

SS: I’m writing a screenplay with another writer and I’m also in the process of finishing a one-man show.

Why should folks go out and see ‘Live and Become’?

SS: It’s very simple. ‘Live and Become’ is not a story about the Ethiopian Jews. This is a story of human beings and through this character that I play you will understand how hard it is to maintain one’s identity that is not yours and people should go see this film for one reason. This is a film about mothers from different cultures and helps establish individuals as human beings. We all have the story about Africa and people struggling around the world, and this particular film will give light as to what that struggle means. This films teaches you about suffering and at the same time about hope; that hope is the most important and the most necessary thing that we have in our lives. Without hope, we are doomed. For those who want to be inspired, and educated, they should go see ‘Live and Become’.