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Theeb

Play trailer 1:20 Poster for Theeb 2015 1h 40m Adventure Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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Theeb

Theeb

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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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Critics Reviews

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Alex Shephard The New Republic 02/22/2016
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. Go to Full Review
Kevin P. Sullivan Entertainment Weekly 02/20/2016
B+
The effectiveness of the story hinges largely on Al-Hwietat, whose performance is both convincing wide-eyed and complex. Go to Full Review
Bill Goodykoontz Arizona Republic 01/14/2016
4/5
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. Go to Full Review
Josh Slater-Williams Vague Visages 11/14/2023
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. Go to Full Review
Farah Cheded A Good Movie To Watch 10/07/2023
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. Go to Full Review
C.J. Prince Way Too Indie 06/06/2019
Theeb is a mature, well-realized effort that brings to mind some of Hollywood's old westerns and epics Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Kaili M 12/30/2023 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. See more dave s 11/02/2022 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. See more Tim G 02/21/2021 Certainly not bad, just didn't find it particularly illuminating beyond it's "in a bad spot" setup. See more nefasto r @Nefasto 04/09/2019 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. See more 01/02/2019 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. See more 12/18/2017 Puntaje Original: 5.0 Ahora The Pianist empieza a parecer divertido... See more Read all reviews
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Theeb

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Movie Info

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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