Captains of Za'atari

Released Nov 19, 2021

1h 13m

Documentary

List

90%

Tomatometer

21 Reviews

Having fled the war in Syria, best friends Mahmoud and Fawzi live in Za'atari refugee camp in Jordan. Like many boys their age they dream of becoming professional football players. Having no real facilities or means for training they play persistently in the hope that one day their dream may come to life.

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Phuong Le

Guardian

With tender compassion, the film offers gently nuanced insight into the lives of Syrian refugees.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 29, 2021

Full Review

Josh Flanders

Chicago Reader

Director Ali El Arabi crafts a film of deep humanity, providing an exposé of the struggles and tragedies of refugee life.

Feb 20, 2021

Full Review

Alissa Wilkinson

Vox

Mahmoud proclaims that refugees don't need pity; they need opportunities. And that message resonates throughout the film.

Feb 10, 2021

Full Review

Jason Flatt

But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Captains of Za’atari is not the documentary you think it is necessarily, but its true message is perhaps more stirring and important than the soccer of it all ever was.

Rated: 7/10

Jan 16, 2023

Full Review

Jay Weissberg

The Film Verdict

Apart from Mahmoud Bashirs dreamily fluid camerawork, Captains is less than master of its material. Too much of it feels staged, as if the boys have been fed their lines, and the workmanlike editing doesnt build to the expected level of excitement.

Feb 26, 2022

Full Review

Carson Timar

Clapper

This is a powerful film full of life and aspirations that speak to a deep and authentic soul of the human experience. Everyone wants to dream and the film captures this in a stunning sense.

Feb 22, 2022

Full Review

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Ali El Arabi

Director

Ibrahim Elhefnawy

Self

Ali El Arabi

Producer

Mahmoud Bashir

Cinematographer

Simon El Habre

Film Editing

Alaa Eldin El Dajani

Film Editing

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Synopsis

Having fled the war in Syria, best friends Mahmoud and Fawzi live in Za'atari refugee camp in Jordan. Like many boys their age they dream of becoming professional football players. Having no real facilities or means for training they play persistently in the hope that one day their dream may come to life.

Director: Ali El Arabi
Distributor: Utopia
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: Arabic
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 19, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 19, 2021
Runtime: 1h 13m

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