Theeb

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1:20

Theeb

2015

1h 40m

Adventure

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

72 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

In 1916, Theeb lives with his Bedouin tribe in a remote part of the Ottoman Empire. When his older brother has to escort a British officer across the desert, Theeb tags along for the adventure.

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Critics Consensus

Led by an outstanding performance from Jacir Eid Al-Hwietat in the title role, Theeb is a startlingly assured first effort from director/co-writer Naji Abu Nowar.

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Alex Shephard

The New Republic

An inversion of Lawrence of Arabia -- a film told from the perspective of Arab bedouins rather than colonial adventurers, a scrappy coming of age story rather than a grand tale of epic, colonial ambitions.

Feb 22, 2016

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Kevin P. Sullivan

Entertainment Weekly

The effectiveness of the story hinges largely on Al-Hwietat, whose performance is both convincing wide-eyed and complex.

Rated: B+

Feb 20, 2016

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Bill Goodykoontz

Arizona Republic

The burden rests on Eid's shoulders, and he more than carries it. He's a natural, showing us Theeb's curiosity, loyalty and ingenuity while still retaining the innocence of a boy who has been sheltered from the world outside the desert.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 14, 2016

Full Review

Josh Slater-Williams

Vague Visages

With a 1916 setting that offers a very different perspective on the era of T.E. Lawrence; there’s a richness to both its character work and the historical implications of every setting those players find themselves in.

Nov 14, 2023

Full Review

Farah Cheded

A Good Movie To Watch

Jacir Eid holds much of Theeb on his shoulders, but he makes all this responsibility look effortless, putting in a performance that modulates childlike innocence with the embittered gaze of someone learning how the world works for the first time.

Oct 7, 2023

Full Review

C.J. Prince

Way Too Indie

Theeb is a mature, well-realized effort that brings to mind some of Hollywood's old westerns and epics

Jun 6, 2019

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Kaili M

This was one of my favorite movies of the year. Quiet, sensitive, harsh. Shows love between brothers in a rugged setting that no longer exists.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/30/23

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dave s

Considering the facts that the actors are all non-professionals and the director, Naji Abu Nowar, would appear to have limited experience, it is remarkable that Theeb turned out to be the masterpiece that it is. Set in 1916 in the Middle East, a young boy finds himself alone in a vast expanse of desert after the three adults in his entourage are ambushed and killed. With minimal dialogue, Theeb relies heavily on stark imagery to tell its tale of survival in a stark and arid environment, a boy's coming-of-age unlike anything anyone living in the Western world could imagine. It is almost hypnotic from beginning to end thanks to the stunning cinematography and the simple but compelling story. One has to wonder why Naji Abu Nowar has done nothing cinematically since Theeb's release in 2014.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Tim G

Certainly not bad, just didn't find it particularly illuminating beyond it's "in a bad spot" setup.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/21/21

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nefasto r

I found "Theeb" interesting and entertaining, but I also thought that was lacking some conviction in the crucial scenes, some mordant! The film find the right balance between a western and a coming-of-age story, but does not believe too much in its potential and does not create too much tension, and consequently get a bit lost, not unlikely our little wolf.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

amazing soundtrack and imagery, very well framed shots with startling and authentic beauty that reflects the beauty of the Sahara. Along with a very interesting depiction of the Bedouin environment and the premisces of its confrontation with the west.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Audience Member

Puntaje Original: 5.0 Ahora The Pianist empieza a parecer divertido...

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

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Naji Abu Nowar

Director

Jacir Eid Al-Hwietat

Theeb

Jack Fox

Edward

Hussain Salama

Hussain

Hasan Metlak

Al Ghareeb

Marji Auda

Marji

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Theeb: Trailer 1

1:20

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Synopsis

In 1916, Theeb lives with his Bedouin tribe in a remote part of the Ottoman Empire. When his older brother has to escort a British officer across the desert, Theeb tags along for the adventure.

Director: Naji Abu Nowar
Producer: Bassel Ghandour
Screenwriter: Bassel Ghandour
Distributor: Film Movement
Production Co: Immortal Entertainment, Bayt Al Shawareb, Doha Film Institute
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: Arabic
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 6, 2015, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 28, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $277.6K
Runtime: 1h 40m

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