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 André
Salim Gédéon: (1941- 1984)
André S.Gédéon
belongs to a family who has always secured its social status in
all levels: Education and most of all financial security.
André
the youngest in the family of five has strived hard against his
family's wishes in order to find his way in the Arts where he expressed
himself freely. From tender age he mimicked and personified the
characters of his comic books; locking himself up in his room. He
completed his degree in Law at the University of St Joseph and worked
in the Bank for few years; while working at night with a group of
talented artists in what formed then the first seed of the "Theater
de Chansonniers" that was called: "Le Theatre de 10 heures"(Yvette
Surscok; Abadallah Nabbout; Gaston Chikhani; and Pierre Gedeon and
others).
Following a
fast progress and success in the Theatre; especially after his remarkable
success in the play ": The malice of the old man". Andre's
ambition was to reach out to the vast world of the cinema. After
working in several Magazines and Newspapers he decided at an early
age; his mid twenties; to leave all his hard work behind and adventure
in a new country where he didn't have any previous connection with;
or any knowledge of the language Tchecoslovaquia and this for the
main reason that he respected the style and form of Arts that Central
Europe was producing in the sixties against the fast growing machinery
of the USA.
In Tchecoslovaquia
Andre wrote and produced 3 short films that were very successful
in Prague and back in Lebanon: "The temptation of the Devil"
the Square of three Angles" and “memories”. Completing
his 5 years degree at the FAMU in Prague with Honours Andre returned
to Lebanon leaving behind a wife; Melissa Linhartova (a theatre
fashion designer) and a son Sacha Gedeon of 5years; who both never
succeeded to join him in a torn country by a civil war. In Lebanon
Andre worked in many fields: as journalist in "Le Magazine"
and "Le Reveil" and for the first time he wrote poems
in Arabic and wrote few scripts for Tele-Liban "Artisans parmi
nous " - "Handcrafters between us" and directed children
programs with his second wife Chadia Elhage Gedeon: "Our little
Kings" and "my Talent", additionally to his work
side by side with the Brothers Rahbani in Petra in the role of Laius
with Antoine Kerbage. Lebanon chocked Andre to the bones; his illness
(asthma); got worse especially after his late production and Direction
for his only film in Lebanon: "Lebanon despite everything"
for the Episcopal Media Commission headed then by his Reverend Bishop
Roland Abou Jaoude. The film featured Raymond Gebara; the late Rida
Khoury; Antoine and Latifeh Moultaka; Rifaat Tarabay; Mounir Ghaoui;
and Ward al-Khal in her first debut. André reinvented himself
in Lebanon as a poet in both languages French and Arabic. He left
behind a magnificent collection of poetry that was published posthumously:
La Sève promise". André died in Hôtel Dieu
at the age of 43 years after a coma of 40 days that was caused by
a severe asthma attack.
"The Troubadour";
"the Gypsy;" "the Intense" did not reach his
dreams... Being a judge in the Panel for International Films Festivals:
Carlo Vivari; Andre's dream was to see the Lebanese movie not only
contributing; but also playing an important role on the international
scene. His influence in the TV production and direction was felt
immensely especially in modernizing the filming and taking the camera
outside the studio to become one with the context and the content.
Few
Photos, Gédéon in theater and behind scene
Gédéon
in his last scene as Laius in Jordan Petra
Gédéon
and actor Antoine Kerbej in Jordan, Petra for Brothers Rahbani
Andre Gedeon
backstage in Petra Jordan
with his wife Chadia el-Hage Gedeon (Now Hajjar)
-additional photos-
Contact:
chadia@bigpond.com
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