Rami Malek Discusses Cannes Competition Film, Reflects on 1st Oscar for Egyptian-Descent Actor
Updated
Updated · Variety · May 19
Rami Malek Discusses Cannes Competition Film, Reflects on 1st Oscar for Egyptian-Descent Actor
8 articles · Updated · Variety · May 19
Rami Malek said appearing at Cannes with “The Man I Love” feels “surreal” ahead of the film’s May 20 world premiere in competition.
The film, directed by Ira Sachs and co-written with Mauricio Zacharias, follows a New York theater artist in the late 1980s confronting mortality after an AIDS diagnosis.
Malek said Sachs drew out a performance he could not have delivered in another setting, calling the director’s work intimate, empathetic and timeless.
The Oscar winner also reflected on becoming the first performer of Egyptian descent to win best actor, saying the achievement carries meaning for immigrants and for audiences in Egypt and beyond.
Is Rami Malek's risky new queer role a career triumph or an overreach after his Oscar win?
Can a film celebrate life during the AIDS crisis without diminishing the era's devastating reality?
Rami Malek’s Transformative Performance in “The Man I Love” Earns Cannes Acclaim: Inside Ira Sachs’ 1980s AIDS Drama and Its Awards Prospects
Overview
Ira Sachs' latest drama, The Man I Love, made its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, marking his return to competition after his 2019 film Frankie. The film is set in New York around 1984 and centers on Jimmy George, a beloved queer entertainer living with AIDS, portrayed by Rami Malek. Despite his declining health, Jimmy is determined to mount a new theatrical production. The premiere featured Sachs, Malek, and newcomer Luther Ford on the red carpet, highlighting the film's emotional debut and initial critical acclaim for its powerful performances and moving story.