THEEB marks the feature debut of Oxford-born, Jordanian-bred director Naji Abu Nowar, who has crafted a nuanced look at the collision of East and West that occurred on the Arabian Peninsula during World War I, the outcome of which would ultimately bring the triumphs and trauma of modernity to the Arab world.
The film opens with a vivid portrait of Bedouin society, particularly the rituals of praise and hospitality that mark the arrival of guests into their midst. The film’s eponymous hero is a young Bedouin boy who is prematurely burdened with the responsibilities of manhood by the war when his tribe is unwittingly pulled into the Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire by an Englishman (Jack Fox) passing through their camp with his Arab agent.
“Set in the same time and place as Lawrence of Arabia, it’s something of an antithesis to David Lean’s celebrated epic.” – Slant Magazine
“An engaging and beautifully shot coming-of-age tale set against an environment so harsh and acrid that merely viewing it will have you reaching for sunscreen.” – The Irish Times
“packs a powerful punch” – The Guardian
Quatar, Jordan, 2014 | Language: Arabic | 100 minutes | Cert: TBC
Director: Naji Abu Nowar
Starring: Jacir Eid Al-Hwietat, Hussein Salameh Al-Sweilhiyeen
