NAJI ABU NOWAR | JORDAN, QATAR, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, UNITED KINGDOM | 2014 | 100' | ARAB WITH DUTCH SUBTITLES
Coming-of-age drama presented as a classic adventure film of the kind that's rarely made these days. For his debut feature, Jordanian director Naji Abu Nowar received several awards, including one at the past Venice Film Festival.
1916: World War I is raging, also on the Arab Peninsula, then still a part of the Ottoman Empire. It is pitch dark when the orphaned Hussein and his younger brother Theeb, two traditional Bedouin tribe members, suddenly see a British officer and his guide emerge from the darkness near their camp. Abiding by their custom, the Bedouins welcome their unexpected guests with hospitality. The officer is however of course not here by chance: he is aware that these Bedouins know the area like no other, they work as guides for travelling pilgrims after all. The brothers are assigned to lead the officer and his guide to a well near the Ottoman train tracks. It is the beginning of a dangerous journey, during which Theeb in particular is forced to use all his survival skills.
While set in what is today Saudi Arabia, the film was shot entirely in Jordan. The spectacular scenery was captured by Wolfgang Thaler, Ulrich Seidl's regular cameraman.
Distribution: from 13 August 2015,Cinemien.
Screenings:
Venue: Rialto
FRI 14 AUG – 19:00 
TUE 18 AUG – 19:00