Captain Abu Raed - Movie Review

While I am not familiar with Jordanian films, I found an interesting film called Captain Abu Raed. The film was suggested based on my viewing habits. It was an accurate assessment. Captain Abu Raed is a heart-warming drama that does not try to tie up all the loose ends, opting for a more "Indie" approach to conflict resolution.

Abu Raed (Nadim Sawalha) is not a Captain. He is a janitor at the airport. He finds a Captain's hat while emptying a trash bin one day. When he whimsically wears the hat in his run-down neighborhood, one of the young boys, Tareq (Udey Al-Qiddissi) mistakes him for a pilot. The boy spreads the rumor that Abu Raed is a Captain. When a group of young waifs show up at his door begging Abu Raed to share his adventures, he finally relents.

The children are amazed at the many stories that Abu Raed shares with them on their makeshift soccer field. But a slightly older boy, Murad (Hussein Al-Sous) knows the truth. Murad is on the receiving end of regular beatings from his alcoholic father (Ghandi Saber). His mother (Dina Raad-Yaqhnam) also suffers his abuse. Murad vents his frustrations by making it a point to discredit Abu Raed to the younger kids. Abu Raed, who was suffering from the loss of his wife found rekindled joy in life spending time with the children. His efforts to help them seem to constantly backfire, placing increasing demands on him that he eventually can't keep up with.

Abu Raed develops an unusual friendship with a female pilot named Nour (Rana Sultan). The relationship is mutually beneficial as the two share their secrets and help each other work through various issues. Abu Raed eventually enlists Nour's help in trying to save one child. Knowing he cannot save his entire neighborhood of under-privileged kids, Abu Raed makes his sacrifice to try and save one promising youth. It is an undertaking that pays a reward at great personal expense. Sometimes differences can only be made one person at a time.

Amin Matalqa wrote and directed Captain Abu Raed. His story-telling techniques are effective, providing insight into his subject matter. His characters are complex, with traits layered in throughout the film. The story has great credibility in Abu Raed's inability to solve all the problems around him. While Abu Raed possesses a lifetime of wisdom (much of it gained from his library of over 2,000 books), his ability to resolve the issues of poverty have natural limitations. His attempts are noble and often witty, but his endeavors end up digging a deeper hole. The story was inspired yet credible. The characters were engaging and believable. The dialogue fresh and enjoyable. Great writing all around.

The version of Captain Abu Raed that I watched was unrated. I would not restrict this film to any age category because it does not contain excessive material that would be objectionable. The film does deal with poverty and domestic violence, but is tactfully handled. The most disturbing scene has a father burning his son's hand with a hot spoon. The other domestic violence is implied. The root cause of the domestic violence is alcohol abuse, which does not include drinking. There is a scene of a character passed out drunk which almost ends violently. The film includes an act of violence that can be assumed to end with a death, but the acts are suggested rather than depicted. This film has a warm message that can be enjoyed by any age. While there are some disturbing themes, they are well done, making this a family-oriented drama. Run time is one hour, 42 minutes.

I enjoyed Captain Abu Raed. The film had a nice balance of character development, plot and dialogue. The writing created a great platform for strong performances, especially from Sawalha. The story does not pretend that one man can change the world, but it does demonstrate that one man can make a difference. Even in a grim situation, with the odd against you, there is always hope. Even when change only happens one person at a time. That was the message I took away from Captain Abu Raed. A great film that will leave some viewers feeling unsatisfied. While I generally enjoy a film with no loose ends, I can handle one that doesn't try too hard only to end up losing credibility. 8/10.

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