Tunisia: Tribute to Hichem Rostom the multiple and passionate artist – Kapitalis

The famous actor Hichem Rostom, who starred in a host of Tunisian and foreign films, bowed out on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at the age of 75. Back on the career of more than 50 years of a multiple artist.

On the announcement of the death of this great actor, in addition to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the municipality of Tunis and the town of La Marsa, his hometown, several artistic personalities, including Dorra Zarrouk, Atef Ben Hassine, Nejib Belkadhi, Wajiha Jendoubi , Mekdad Sehili, Moez Toumi, Raouf Ben Yaghlane or even Abdelhamid Bouchnak expressed their pain following the departure of the “Big“, and offered their condolences to his family, loved ones and all those who had the chance to know him.

All regret the departureof a good, generous and altruistic man always ready to give”, and “the most famous and charismatic actor of his generation”.

“Hichem Rostom will forever remain one of the most beautiful and charismatic faces of Tunisian cinema! I had the chance to share the stage with him at the Theatre! I discovered the generous Artist and the exceptional man that he was! Hi Si Hichem!”wrote Abdelhamid Bouchnak in particular… And Leila Toubel added: “The curtain has fallen, the cultural scene mourns you. Farewell Hichem Rostom. To our applause”

A native of La Marsa (northern suburb of Tunis), Hichem Rostom was interested in theater from an early age and completed his higher education in France, at the Institute of Theatrical Studies of the Sorbonne-Nouvelle University and at the Institute of Advanced Film Studies, before working as an animator at the National Popular Theater.

He then participated in nearly sixty plays, during nearly 20 years in France, where he also collaborated with Radio France, making appearances in famous films such as ” Wing or thigh “ with Louis De Funès or even “The English Patient” with Juliette Binoche.

Back home, in 1988, to play in the film “Les Sabots en or”, Hichem Rostom began his career in Tunisia, also playing in various sons, including ” The Silences of the Palace » (Mufida Tlatli), ” Essaida (Mohamed Zran)Pomegranate siestas (Mahmoud Ben Mahmoud), “The Magic Box” (Ridha Behi), “ TV is coming » (Moncef Dhouib), or even more recently “ Aleppo Flower » (Ridha Behi).

He has also acted in many television series, short films and TV movies, both in Tunisia and abroad.

Hichem Rostom was also entrusted with the direction of the Carthage Theatrical Days for two successive sessions and also produced plays (“Caligula” – “The Stranger”), before leading theater workshops in several universities. and centers of the country.

During his career, Hichem Rostom has been rewarded many times: he is notably an Officer of the Tunisian Order of Merit, and received, in 2012, the Special Prize for all of his work at the Black Screens International Film Festival in Libreville as well as the Best Actor Award for The Fifth String at the Oran International Arab Film Festival.

Sensitive to the environmental and animal cause, he was a vegetarian, and advocated the connection with nature through meditation, spiritual and Sufi songs, of which he was a fan. In 2020, it is setting up « Ouakfet rjel Tounes“, among other associations with which he collaborates to help the needy “and reach out a hand to one’s neighbour” as he liked to say.

Yusra Nemlaghi