Guns, gangs, and a hatred for high-tech — no, this isn't Oakland in 2015. It's the treacherous landscape of 1916 Arabia, just after the railroads were built, which director Naji Abu Nowar captures so beautifully in his directorial debut,Theeb.True, the Arabian desert during the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire is not the safest place for young, unsupervised Bedouin boys to wander. But Theeb, whose name means "wolf" in Arabic, is an exception, primed to survive in this wolf-eats-rabbit world. The precocious protagonist follows his older brother, Hussein, on a dangerous mission, escorting a British army officer and his interpreter to a water well where they're meant to meet up with allies. Theeb's resourcefulness is finally put to the test, and he must find his way home alone, relying on his inner wolf to brave intense heat and thirst, treacherous terrain, and a collision course of Ottoman mercenaries, Arab revolutionaries, and outcast Bedouin raiders, bitter about high-tech railroads compromising their livelihoods (Sound familiar?).Theeb's stunning cinematography, quietly profound performances, and familiar Western-movie themes make this world one you'll want to inhabit for an hour and 40 minutes.
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