Theeb is an epic, gangster style period piece set in the Arabian Desert. This enthralling story takes place in the Ottoman province of Hijaz during World War I. It follows a young Bedouin boy Theeb whose father, the respected leader of his tribe, has passed away. Theeb is being raised in the ways of the Bedouin by his brother, but his life is about to change dramatically with the arrival of a British Officer bent on a perilous mission. The movie highlights one of the most historically significant periods in Arab history; the end of the 400 year Arabian empire, a period of great upheaval for the Bedouin. A haunting soundtrack of traditional Bedouin music created by Jerry Lane is reminiscent of Ennio Morricone’s now iconic themes for Sergio Leone’s The Good, The Bad And The Ugly.

Director/Writer Naji Abu Nowar’s debut feature film Theeb (Wolf), has just won the Best Director Award at the Venice International Film Festival in the Orizzonti Competition. Bassel Ghandour (Glass Half Full: The Jon Hovac Story (2010), The Hurt Locker (2008), Till Death (2012) co-wrote and produced the film with Nowar. The film’s only star listed on IMDB is Jack Fox (Jeremy in the Mr. Selfridge TV Series). The rest of the cast including Jacir Eid (Theeb), the talented young protagonist; Hassan Mutlag (Theeb’s brother) and Marji Audeh are all unknown. Set in The Arabian Desert, Nowar captures one of the most inhospitable and hauntingly beautiful landscapes on Earth: pink sands, vast desert landscapes, endless arid mountains with deep canyons carved by water that has long since vanished. The nights are filled with strange noises and lit by a brilliant canopy of stars that Bedouins have used for centuries to guide their travels.

Nowar discussed the challenges in filming this epic period piece set in this inhospitable and mysterious landscape at the Venice Press conference.

Theeb means wolf and it is a great honour for the young Bedouin boy to be given this name by his father. Expected to do great things in his life because he has the qualities of the wolf, able to survive on his own and as part of a pack. Theeb needs to use both these qualities to successfully conquer the challenges thrown in his way in his life changing journey.

The nature of the desert prohibits bringing large filming equipment on a journey film such as this. For Nowar this was a benefit because the crew and actors would not have had the expertise with the type of filmmaking cameras and gear that would have been used for a movie such as Lawrence of Arabia, filmed not far from the locations in Theeb. Nowar’s crew and actors have made a remarkable film that belies its modest pedigree. Their award at the 71st Venice Film Festival is more than well deserved.

Moira Romano