Theeb-2015

Director Naji Abu Nowar

Starring Jacir Eid

Scott’s Review #459

Reviewed August 4, 2016

Grade: B+

An Arabic-spoken foreign language film that received a 2015 nomination for Best Foreign Language Film, Theeb is an old-world film set in 1916 during the Ottoman Empire.

The event is  World War I, as an Englishman battles Arabs and nobody can be trusted.

The film is largely shot in the smoldering Arabian desert (in Jordan) and told from the perspective of a child named Theeb.

Despite the slow pace, the action moments are even more important. It has a grainy quality that makes it feel like a bizarre Arabian western.

Theeb lives in a small village run by his father and older brother, Hussein. One night, a mysterious Arab man and an Englishman arrive seeking a guide to a Roman well near the Ottoman railway.

The mission is feared a dangerous one, as the trail they must take is riddled with bandits; not to mention, the Englishman carries a box of gold, making him a vulnerable target.

Theeb, left behind because he is so young, follows and joins them, much to the group’s chagrin. Predictably, trouble ensues, and Theeb must fend for himself.

What I enjoyed about this film is how unpredictable it is after the group faces danger. Sure, when the foursome sets out on a trail led by camels, we know bad stuff will happen.

But, finally left to his own devices, I was intrigued to see how Theeb would face his new challenges, having been protected by his family up until now.

In ways, Theeb reminded me of another adventure film, Life of Pi (2012), though Theeb is much darker. Both feature a young, non-American male of Indian or Middle Eastern background, forced to survive largely alone.

The John Boorman classic Deliverance (1972) also came to mind during one dark scene, as Theeb and Hussein cower in rocky caves while their devilish pursuers taunt and whistle at them from below.

The hunter-vs.-victim dynamic is front and center, and it is kill or be killed.

Later, an interesting bond develops between Theeb and one of the raiders (Hassan), even as they mistrust each other. Will they forge the bond or will one betray the other?

The answer emerges in the final moments, and the buildup is compelling. I became aware of the father-and-son dynamic mixed in with the friend-and-enemy dynamic.

When Theeb treats Hassan’s wounds, there is tenderness on the exterior, but is Theeb fully kind to Hassan?

A slight negative for me was that I didn’t buy that the period was the early Twentieth century; everyone looked and acted so modern, as if they were merely dressed up for their parts… as they were.

Perhaps it had to do with the hairstyles or mannerisms.

Shot entirely in Wadi Rum, Jordan, a gorgeous part of the world, the desert and big sky lend much to the ambiance. It felt almost like the Old West, an ode to old Western films, only set in the Arabic world.

The entire cast, save for the Englishman, are non-actors, an amazing achievement, and a measure that creates an obvious level of realism that rehearsed actors cannot always bring to the table.

Originally meant to be a short film only, Theeb emerged as a full-length feature, and I am glad it did, as it has enough meat to warrant a longer duration.

The film is a cinematic wonder with a psychological edge.

Oscar Nominations: Best Foreign Language Film