“Theeb (Jacir Eid Al-Hwietat), a young Bedouin boy living in an Ottoman province, is full of curiosity and more than a little stubborn. He idealizes his older brother Hussein (Hussein Salameh Al-Sweilhiyeen) so it’s natural he will sneak along when Hussein is asked to guide a mysterious British soldier to a secluded spot along a dangerous route during World War I.
“Gorgeously shot in Jordan’s Wadi Rum by cinematographer Wolfgang Thaler, writer-director Naji Abu Nowar crafts something more than a coming-of-age story as Theeb, whose name means “wolf,” finds deception and death in the desert among revolutionaries, bandits and opportunists.
“Jordan’s foreign language Oscar entry, Abu Nowar never rushes his story and wisely relies on naturalistic work, especially from untrained actor Al-Hwietat whose teasing bond with his brother (they are real-life cousins) is among the film’s delights, which include nods to classic Westerns and David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia." - Toronto Star
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