Samba: hair, dance, accent… How did Tahar Rahim transform for the shoot?

Released in cinemas in 2014, the film Sambaworn by Omar Sy, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Tahar Rahim and Izïa Higelinwill be rebroadcast on Sunday July 31, 2022, from 9:05 p.m. on France 2. Realized by Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakachethis feature film is in fact the film adaptation of the novel Samba for France by Delphine Coulin. In this film, Omar Sy interprets the character of Samba, a Senegalese living for 10 years illegally in Paris, and who works as a kitchen assistant in a hotel. After receiving a promise of employment, he decides to apply for a residence permit. Nevertheless, he is put in a center for immigrants awaiting trial.

It was there that he met Alice, a former HRD embodied by Charlotte Gainsbourgwho is in the process of reintegrating into the world of work by assisting Manu, played by Izia Higelin, a young woman who supports undocumented migrants in their legal process. Little by little, Alice begins to fall in love with Samba, which makes her more sure of herself. Samba receives on the other hand the obligation to leave the French territory. Continuing despite everything his usual life, he meets Wilson, an Algerian sans-papier played by Tahar Rahimwho pretends to be a Brazilian in order to have more chances at the professional level and in love in France.

Samba: Tahar Rahim learned to dance the samba for filming purposes

Like his character in Samba, Tahar Rahim also chained odd jobs (employee in the kitchen, window washer etc.). “I’m not sure I understood the extent of their problems at the time.“, said the comedian about the immigrant workers. “After reading the script, I was also very happy to see that my character was the opposite of what I had done before. For once, closer to me too“, he added. To prepare for his role, Tahar Rahim let his hair grow, and took Brazilian lessons with a Frenchwoman who lived in the land of samba, a dance that the actor learned for the shoot. He then completed his achievements by meeting a French-speaking Brazilian. Mixing the two accents, he found the right tone.

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