Captain Abu Raed

This movie is a great one on several levels: 1- It depicts the life in Amman Jordan in a very real way: the difference between the poor (eastern) and rich (western) sides of the city very well. The nostalgic aspects of Amman downtown - the roman ruins everywhere, the stairs, the groups of kids running around ... This is one aspect never found in any previous Jordanian movies.

2- The movie has very capable actors - very expressive faces. The kids in the movie are supposedly 1st time actors, gathered from refugee camps in Jordan. That is AMAZING. They truly acted so natural.

3- amazing soundtrack - the music score adds so much to the emotional scenes - yet, it remains transparent. Perfect combination.

4- the story is very nice, global, humanistic, 3rd world concerns (child employment, familial violence, poverty, class segregation, etc.) I think the story could have been better: I wish it had more depth, I wish the problems presented are not so "cliche". Child employment and familial violence are problems that usually 1st world people "project" on 3rd world countries. However, if you ask 3rd world people about it, chances are they are at the bottom of the list. Not because they are not important, but because there are so many other more pressing problems, AND, because they often tend to be symptoms of poverty & ignorance.

I wish the author has picked a problem where right and wrong are actually much harder to decide. The movie seemed a bit long even at 1.5 hours.

I also wish the movie got faster.. the introduction, and I would say the first 60 minutes of the movie were perfect. The director was preparing the stage for the plot very nicely. However, after 60 minutes, one would expect the movie to pick up speed and not remain very "dreamy" like. The plot came very quickly.

Overall, great job director Matalqa. I am looking forward for his future movies.

I went to see the film just out of curiosity. I was in for a surprise - a rather pleasant one. This is a great movie from many a viewpoint. The actors, the subject, the photography, the editing and the atmosphere. Looking at it as the first Jordanian feature film (even though many of those who worked on it are not Jordanian) I find it truly great. Looking at it globally, as an international film, I still find it well above average - much better anyway than many low grade Hollywood movies. I only have two regrets. The film would have had an even greater impact if it was some 20 or 25 minutes shorter. The music: although beautiful, well interpreted and recorded, it does not seem very appropriate for such an intimate film; by moments at least. It seems to have been composed for some kind of huge, mega production the likes of Gladiator or Troy and such. Other than that it is, again, a very fine movie and I truly enjoyed it.

With a little more attention to avoiding idealistic romanticism (without losing smiling atmosphere of the drama) and with a more intense scenario, this movie could certainly be a masterpiece. Nevertheless, it's not an unsuccesful movie. It presents a stronge panoramic feeling on viewing eastern societies' humanistic values in daily life without exagerrating and shoots adverse instances, as well. --- Everyone should meet Captain Abu Raed, the old wise man and should attend his storytelling dreams.

I went to see this movie at the Dubai Film Festival as a guest of the Directors brother. I didn't believe I would enjoy the film as it is in Arabic with English subtitles!! However, I can honestly say it is one of the most beautiful and moving films I have ever seen. I laughed and I cried and I held my breath in anticipation. I left the movie theater feeling absolutely blown away by the whole experience of Captain Abu Raed.

The children are fantastic actors especially when you consider they are refugees who Amin worked closely with.

This movie really touched my heart and I am counting down until it hits the cinemas here in the UAE so I can see it again and with my friends.

Congratulations to everyone involved.

A Jordanian movie? that's the first thing that popped in my head when I first heard about this at the Sundance film festival which as everyone knows is a very prestigious indie festival, because I've seen all kinds of Arabic films:Algerian, Lebanese, Palestinian but never heard of an international Jordanian movie and that's basically what made me interested and asking and searching for it,and thank god I did because I discovered an Arabic master piece of humanity ,beauty,love,perseverance, sacrifice, devotion and hope all in one man who has one goal an life: to see people happy and living their dreams although he didn't and wasn't disappointed about that he was a saint and he preferred to die than to be contaminated with the vices of society, he only saw goodness in people and made up excuses for bad people. maybe some would say he was living in an imaginary unreal world but he chose it rather than living in despair after his child and wife's death, he refused to take the easy way because real saints can't be turned into demons and taking that easy road would have made him one. abu raed is the symbol of true love and hope. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BRILLIANT WORK