everything you have heard about this movie is true.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

It is not only a funny movie, but it allows a great amount of joy for anyone who watches it.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

Theeb is a gradually built film of characterization and nuance, using tension, action, and imagery more than dialogue. Similar to The Revenant (2015) in its use of extensive visuals as an important tool of development, this film is even more effective. Both pieces detail a story of survival; however, Theeb, the main character of the film, truly breaks a mental barrier in his character development (where Hugh Glass, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, falls short) through outstanding directing, writing, acting, and filming.This movie matches the desert's pace. Slow and steady. Nowar provides the foundation for the main conflict over the entire first hour. Mainly without dialogue, brotherly relationship is detailed, WWI tensions are subtly described, and Theeb is slowly characterized. Tension is masterfully built from the limited perspective of the child, thus truly isolating the events of the plot as a mere device to effectively challenge and build Theeb. Written and directed beautifully, the film reaches the height of The Godfather (1972) in its great character sketch.Theeb is simply a piece of art. Thaler utilizes an experience as rich as Emmanuel Lubezki's to film the events of the film. Each lingering shot serves a purpose to derive a certain emotion; each close-up of Theeb emits an aura to further characterize; each shot of nature emphasizes the environment and danger at the perfect time. Each element of the piece added together build towards a climax so carefully constructed and so gradually built that the slightest touch of the feather would knock it over. This is a film where the emotions of the actors can be felt through the camera; through the screen.Additionally, the movie achieves a fantastic degree of realism. The environment is real, the characters are real, the dialogue is real, and the events are real. The cautiously written script along with the authentic acting creates a reality, in which the full effect of the film can be realized. The acting is nothing special, which makes it real.The immensity of Theeb and his character is alluded to throughout the film and realized because of the events. Theeb is a wolf, born in danger and forged through trial of fire. But emotion was lost somewhere in the middle section of the film. The foundation of the pyramid that Nowar so carefully built eroded away ever so slightly, but just enough to reduce the impact of the final brick being placed. Thus, we find Theeb, the wolf, toughened and tempered, but with no emotion, making this a film about a true wolf.

A surprising very good movie made with love of cinema, something that doesn't happen enough in north Africa where, apart from very rare examples, the doing had stayed somewhat amateurish, storytelling wise. Great characters, simple story (in a good sense, difficult to manage), great sets. Well done.

Greetings again from the darkness. The first film from Jordan to be nominated for a Best Foreign Language Oscar has drawn comparisons to the epic classic Lawrence of Arabia, and the legendary Monument Valley canon of John Ford. This feature film debut of writer/director Naji Abu Nowar takes a more intimate approach in being more while also being less.It's 1916 in Hijaz Province, Arabia – nearing the end of the Ottoman Empire – and the film opens with a voice-over of fatherly advice that provides our basic introduction to the tribe's customs. Soon enough we are watching a couple of Bedoin brothers doing typical brotherly things. The older brother Hussein alternates between teasing young Theeb and teaching him some basic survival skills.Circumstances are such that the boys find themselves on a cross-desert adventure that is both beautiful and dangerous. It's a rare snapshot into this part of the world as it is transitioning from an era where the tribesmen were renowned guides across this stretch of desert, to the modern era where trains (The Iron Donkey) transport people and cargo in significantly less time.More than anything, this is a coming of age story for young Theeb. He quickly learns to apply life lessons taught by his big brother and their late father. Each decision becomes a matter of life and death, and it's the expressive eyes and facial gestures of Jacik Eid as Theeb that makes this so much more than a stunningly beautiful film to look at. The sand, the sun, and the colorful canyons are like so much of nature – simultaneously visually spectacular and life-threatening. Watching Theeb react to each moment through wits and quick-thinking is a unique experience, and when we realize that Theeb fully understands his place in making things right for the family, it becomes emotionally profound.Theeb is defined as "wolf" and it's the strength, independence and savvy of young Theeb that grabs the viewer and prevents us from simply enjoying the landscape and photography. We are engaged with the adventure of this growing-up-too-fast young man.

"Theeb" (2014 release from Jordan; 100 min.) brings the story of a young boy named Theeb. As the movie opens, we are reminded that it is "Arabia, 2016". We get to know Theeb and his older brother Hussein, both part of a nomadic tribe of pilgrim guides. One evening the tribe is visited by an Arab and an Englishman who need a guide to a remote well near the train line. Hussein takes the men, and Theeb secretly follow them. Once found out, they are too far out for Theeb to be sent back. To tell you more would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.Couple of comments: this release comes to us from Jordan, where the entire production took place. I am fairly confident that this is my first exposure to Jordanian cinema, and what a beauty this is. Jordanian director Naji Abu Nowar worked mostly with non-professional actors from the Bedouin tribe, but this does not in the least affect the quality of the acting performances. If anything, the actors seem to feel perfectly at home in that rugged desert environment because, guess what, that is where they actually live! Speaking of the actors, the young boy in the title role is absolutely amazing. Without giving plot points away, a good chunk of the movie is just Theeb by himself or with one other person. Yet the boy easily carries the movie on his shoulder. The movie is shot beautifully, with tons of epic shots of the desert and nearby mountain range. I'd love to see that area for myself at some point (I read that past of "The Martian" starring Matt Damon, was also filmed in that desert). Last but not least, there is a beautiful score for this movie, from composer Jerry Lane, and played by the London Contemporary Orchestra. In case you are not aware: "Theeb" has gotten an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign language Movie. (Not sure how the Oscars work, since "Theeb" was actually released in 2014, yet somehow just now got nominated, not that it matters one way or another) "Theeb" recently opened at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati. The evening screening where I saw this at was attended quite nicely, somewhat to my surprise. With "Theeb", I've now seen 3 of the 5 Oscar nominations for Best Foreign movie, and I hope to see the remaining two still. At one level or another they are all winners, but I'm quite certain that the Oscar will go to "Son of Saul" when all is said and done. Regardless, if you are in the mood for a top-notch quality foreign film, you cannot go wrong with "Theeb", so if you get a chance to check it out, be it in the theater, on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, do not miss it! "Theeb" is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!