Theeb

These days with every kid in town -- along with their cat -- signing up for film school, it is refreshing to attend what amounts to a clinic on how to captivate and hypnotize an audience with one powerful star and scenery that captures the eye and seems almost an character on its own.

All the more remarkable since, for viewers in the west, you have to deal with subtitles as well.

So to sum up, you have a slow moving film with subtitles that has a star unchallenged by puberty, and nothing really seems to happen for most the film, but you will be unable to turn away.

Not too shabby.

When is the next one due?

As the First World War rapidly approaches Theeb's forgotten corner of the Ottoman Empire, a Bedouin tribe is slowly adjusting to the changes brought upon them following the death of their respected Sheikh. It's a subdued, yet tightly framed portrait of tribal life seen through the youthful eyes of the Sheikh's youngest and ignorantly unskillful son, Theeb (Jacir Eid Al- Hwietat).

Turning to his middle brother Hussein (Hussein Salameh Al-Sweilhiyeen) for guidance and attention, Cinematographer Wolfgang Thaler paints an exquisitely beautiful image of Bedouin culture as Hussein patiently teaches Theeb the nuances of nomadic life: tracking, hunting, finding water and the duty of Dakheel. The images are heightened by the natural, intimate relationship between Hussein and Theeb, no doubt in part due to, their real-life familial relationship as cousins.

The quiet beauty conjured by Thaler's wide-angled shots of barren landscapes and director Naji Abu Nowar's limited palette of pale sandy hues, unhurried exposition and exotic musical score is hypnotic. The tranquility is palpable until Nowar rudely interrupts the façade with clever transition shots that unnerve the peace.

The first transition encourages audiences to proceed with caution as Theeb's eldest brother and new Sheikh Hmoud, hears unfamiliar sounds whispered in the darkness. It's a gorgeous shot watching Hmoud disappear into the night before returning like an apparition with British soldier Edward (Jack Fox) and his guide Marji (Marji Audeh) following behind him.

Requesting a guide to lead them through dangerous terrain roaming with Ottoman mercenaries and raiders to an ancient water well on the road to Mecca, Hmoud is forced into honoring Dakheel law and volunteer his Hussein to guide the strangers.

Fearful of losing his favourite brother, Theeb mischievously sets out to following Hussein before finding himself in an unforgiving predicament. Too young to track and without the necessary Bedouin survival skills, Theeb soon becomes lost and begins wandering aimlessly across the desert. Finding the safety of the group by chance, Hussein is forced to bring Theeb on his perilous journey when Edward refuses to delay his mission.

The second change in tone arrives violently as the group comes face to face with a band of murderous Bedouin raiders that leaves Theeb as the lone survivor. Forced into immediate adulthood, Theeb soon discovers the great importance of his name as he learns to survive through cunning and impossible feats.

Nowar's decision to use non-actors in his feature film debut was a ballsy move that proves to be spell-bindingly spot-on. Eid Al-Hwietat is outstanding as the precocious Theeb whilst Hassan Mutlag Al-Maraiyeh is all sorts of menacing as the ruthless Stranger. I readily admit that I was also mesmerised by Jerry Lane's score of pulsating rhythms and haunting chants so reminiscent of the Silk Road. It's also a fabulous juxtaposition to its east/west setting and its Lawrence of Arabia time period.

Nowar's inclusion of Mdallah Al-Manajah's ode about life is another inspiring selection. You can't help but be moved by its homage to Bedouin tradition of oral story telling and poetry and its words of wisdom from father to son. The meaningful words spoken in voice over drive the emotion in the establishing shot and set a powerful tone for the story that follows.

Theeb is truly a cinematic delight that you must keep your eye out for. It's exquisite, intriguing and downright thought provoking.

Naji Abu Nowar directed and co-wrote this Oscar-nominated film...the first from Jordan. It's set during World War One and covers some of the same material you'd find in the giant Dave Lean epic, "Lawrence of Arabia"...however it covers it in about the most different manner as you could imagine.

The film is set among the desert-living Bedouins living within the Ottoman Empire. During the war, many of the Bedouins tired of rule under the Turkish Ottomans and sided with the Brits. And so, when a British soldier and his guide come upon a Bedouin camp in the night, these natives agree to escort the men to their destination. However, the next day when Hussein leaves to escort the pair, his much younger brother, Theeb (about age 8) soon begins following them. He wants to be a man just like Hussein. Unfortunately, soon the expedition goes awry when bandits attack--leaving Theeb the lone survivor. He's stuck in the middle of the desert and has no way to get back home. However, when one of the bandits, who is severely injured, comes upon Theeb, they work out a short truce. He needs help and Theeb cannot possibly survive along in such an inhospitable place.

This is clearly a coming of age tale and it's an extremely well made but also very simple story. The acting and pacing are just fine and it's so very different from a sweeping action picture. Instead, it's a nice look into a different time and different culture. Not a great film but I certainly did enjoy it and would like to see more films from Naji Abu Nowar.

This film tells the story of a young boy's awakening to the dangers and treachery in the adult world. He lives in a time of change, during the last days of the Ottoman Empire, and the coming of a railway has already changed the lives of the tribesmen of the area. There are bigger things going on around them, than these tribesmen, living out their traditional lives, actually realize. One day Theeb's older brother is approached by another Arab who is guiding an Englishman, in a desert crossing. The stranger wants Hussein, older brother of Theeb to escort them through an area that he's not familiar with. Theeb tags along, and from events that take place on this journey comes his rapid advancement into manhood. The desert settings shot in wide-screen ratio are superb. It's the dawn of a new age, unbeknown to Theeb and his brothers, sons of a departed but highly respected Sheik. The performances are excellent, particularly the intelligent wariness tinged with fear, that young Jacir Eid Al-Hwietat shows, playing Theeb (Wolf). You can read in his eyes,and face that his sharp mind is calculating the risks of alternative courses of action during the several scenes when events reach crisis points.From watching this young man, we understand that the life of desert tribesmen involved strong traditions, a strong sense of hospitality to other travelers (once identified and shown not to be a threat), and the sharp sense of self protection that must always be at 100% efficiency.

It's always wonderful to see a well-made film like this, but it's a special treat when the events are happening in a place and time, that is unfamiliar to us on screens of today. "Theeb" reminds us of Lawrence of Arabia, because of it's setting, but the film is on a much more modest scale than that Epic masterpiece. However, it is very well worth our attention. Highly recommended, this is a very good film for young adults as well as for their parents.

As an Arab born and raised in the same spot I found it reflecting the true image almost the same culture and language and conversations at that point of time. Even Badwen words and culture was presented fine. Unlike other movies presenting clowns pretending to be Arabs. However the story wasn't great and it could be better also the conversations and actors were very weak and not big and loud as it should be.

I am raising the hat for the director and I know he can do better than that in the future but should work more on the story and the conversations.