"Captain Abu Raed" Review – Traverse City Film Festival

Film: Captain Abu Raed * Official Site	In Theaters: Screenings
Runtime: 102 minutes	Directed by: Amin Maltaqa
MPAA Rating: Not Rated	Gecko Rating:

Captain Abu Raed is one of those films that sticks with you long after you leave the theater. And the more you think about it, the more you absorb from it. The film is touching, heartbreaking, and gives you hope that good exists in the world, sometimes from the least expected places.

The story revolves around an aging airport janitor named Abu Raed, played with quiet intensity by Nadim Sawalha. One day he finds a pilot’s hat and wears it home. The poor neighborhood children mistake him for a real pilot and beg Abu to tell them stories of his adventures.

Read more and watch a trailer…

He brushes them off at first, but they’re a persistent bunch, and pretty soon, he’s telling them fantastical stories about all of his travels. Of course, he hasn’t been anywhere, so along with his own imagination, he nudges a female pilot named Nour (Rana Sultan) for her stories. She HAS been everywhere and though they’re from different social classes (she comes from a wealthy family), she and Abu become friends.

Everyone in the film is harboring some sort of desperation. Abu is still grieving for his wife and child he lost years ago. Nour is dealing with a father who keeps trying to marry her off, against her wishes. The neighborhood children live in poverty with little hope for a better future. And some of the children live under the tyranny of an abusive, alcoholic father.

In his own quiet way, Abu decides to do something about all of this.

It’s amazing to me that this is the first film project for many of these actors, because they all seem like seasoned veterans. However, Nadim Sawalha, who plays Captain Abu, has been working in the film industry for some four decades. He’s a joy to watch, because he’s one of those actors who says so much without saying anything. With every raised eyebrow and boisterous laugh, his feelings come through loud and clear.

So many commercial movies make you feel like you’re watching the same movie over and over. Then along come the quiet, powerful films like “Captain Abu Raed” that open you up to the greatness of filmmaking — human stories about love, acceptance, and courage. This is also the first film to come out of Jordan in some 50 years, which makes it even more special.

“Captain Abu Raed” is making the rounds at film festivals. If you have a chance to see it, I highly recommend it.

Click here for my interview with director Amin Maltaqa.

Click here to read Amin Maltaqa’s blog, a fascinating look into the journey of a filmmaker.

NOTE TO PARENTS: Though not rated, I think “Captain Abu Raed” is fine for kids 13 and older. The story includes a bit of disturbing content, mainly revolving around the abusive father, who beats his wife, burns his son’s hand, and lies to the police. Much of this is shown off-screen, but it’s still ever-present in the story.

Watch the Trailer:

Images: Captain Abu Raed, Pen & Paper Films in Association with Gigapix Studios, a David Pritchard Production