Captain Abu Raed

I went to this movie as part of an event put on by the Jordanian Embassy. I had no idea what we were going to watch. Didn't read anything about it beforehand. And to be honest, went begrudgingly. I was in for a very pleasant surprise.

The movie is beautifully done, and made me cry towards the end. I'm not one of those girls who likes sappy movies, and usually find myself critiquing movies instead of watching them. I didn't during this one.

I think the beauty of this movie comes from the fact that it feels like a novel. It's smooth, beautiful, and although carries no groundbreaking messages or revelations, it touches your heart. You want to see it, you want it to go on. The kids in the movie melted my heart, and Nadim Sawalha offered a fantastic performance. While I myself don't particularly care for the lead female actress, she did a decent job.

Overall, I would ignore the negativity and controversy over it being or not being the first independent film out of Jordan. To those who keep arguing about that, why don't you start supporting the good that comes out of Jordan, and stop arguing over anything and everything. It was a very good movie, and in many way representative of the Jordan I knew and grew up in. To those of you who enjoy movies with gorgeous scenery and an element of hope and faith in everyday human relationships, watch it.

I guarantee you one thing, go with an open mind, and you will not regret seeing this movie.