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The Quiet Revolution of Beauty of Poverty; A Conversation with Sandy Aouad

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By The Sybarite Team on 3rd June 2025

With Beauty of Poverty, filmmaker and actress Sandy Aouad delivers a breakout performance and a bold creative vision that is already sparking conversation across the film world.

We sat down with Aouad to discuss the layered process behind the film, her personal connection to the story, and why now more than ever this narrative matters.

1.Congratulations on your role in Beauty of Poverty! Could you tell us what drew you to this project? 

When I was writing the script, I wanted people to be struck by its raw honesty. This isn't another poverty narrative - it's about finding dignity and humanity in it. The director's vision to show poverty through a lens of unexpected beauty rather than despair felt revolutionary to me. 

2.Your character in the film is so layered and powerful. How did you prepare for this role, and what personal connections did you find in the story?

I had spent months volunteering at shelters in Kenya during the COVID-19 pandemic. These people experienced hardship. One woman in particular - her ability to find joy in small moments became the soul of my character. Personally, it reminded me of my mother’s resilience during difficult times. 

3. The film’s title, Beauty of Poverty, is striking. What do you think the film’s core message is, and why is it important to tell this story now? 

The title is intentionally paradoxical. Our film suggests that while poverty is brutal, it doesn't erase human beauty - in fact, it often reveals extraordinary strength in today's world of increasing inequality. It is the army against all the moral wars that have arisen against humanity, for the greedy few to make more money. It is an army that stops the social wars fought between individuals due to cash, between humanity and the sexes. 

4. Can you share any memorable moments from filming that really stood out to you or shaped your performance? 

There was a scene where my character comes to realise the harsh reality of life. We shot it in golden hour. That contrast between finally reaching what she always wished for, yet discovering she lost everything, changed how I approached the entire role. 

5. You’ve worked on various projects throughout your career. How did this role challenge you differently as an actor?

This required extreme emotional transparency. There's nowhere to hide in contemporary realism. I had to endure uncomfortable silences. 

6. What’s one thing you learned about yourself during this project that surprised you? 

I am an excellent problem solver; it honestly shocked me how many problems pop up, no matter how well you did your pre-production. Yet, by the end of the day of a film I am producing and starring in, I was weak enough to cry from stress and the nerve-wrecking experience almost every day. 

7. The film has such a poignant commentary on social issues. What do you hope audiences take away from it? 

That they'll leave questioning their assumptions and choices in life. Not just about poverty, but about how we judge everything. There's a quiet revolution in truly seeing the details in the movie. 

8. Do you have any upcoming projects you’re particularly excited about that you can share with us? 

I've written a script about a serial killer, quite a different challenge! 

9. Finally, if you could describe the experience of working on Beauty of Poverty in three words, what would they be? 

Raw. Transformative. Revolutionary.

Watch the trailer here.

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