10th Annual Houston Palestine Film Festival: Theeb (at MFAH)

The 10th Annual Houston Palestine Film Festival, takes place over three weekends in May. The annual Houston Palestine Film Festival presents an honest and independent view of Palestine and its diaspora’s society, culture, and politics through the art of film.

For nine years, the Houston Palestine Film Festival has presented audiences with award-winning comedies, dramas, and documentaries from a rich and growing Palestinian cinema movement.

The landmark 10th edition may be the festival’s most ambitious.

From two-time Oscar nominee Hany Abu-Assad (Paradise Now; Omar) comes The Idol, based on Arab Idol winner and singing sensation Mohammed Assaf;  Amber Fares’ Speed Sisters is a raucously funny documentary about the Arab world’s first all-woman professional auto racing team. Mai Masri presents 3000 Nights, her debut feature-length drama. And from Palestinian provocateurs Arab and Tarzan Nasser comes Dégradé, set in a Gaza hair salon.

HPFF screenings continue at Rice Cinema on May 19-22 and 26-28.

Theeb

Directed by Naji Abu Nowar
2014, in Arabic with English subtitles
United Arab Emirates/Qatar/Jordan/UK
100 minutes

Oscar nominated for Best Foreign-Language Film!

The first Bedouin western, Theeb (which means “wolf” in Arabic) looks at the collision of East and West that occurred on the Arabian Peninsula during World War I.

A young Bedouin boy utilizes the survival skills taught by his brother when they set out on a perilous desert journey to guide a British soldier. When bandits attack, Theeb and his brother must fend for themselves. Jacir Eid Al-Hwietat gives a mesmerizing and intrepid performance as title character. Stunning desert vistas and a soaring musical score enhance this thrilling tale that invokes the adventure of classic western movies.

“A classic adventure film of the best kind, boasting stunning locales in a well-told story about a young Bedouin boy outwitting potential enemies in the desert.” —Variety