The film’s main character is Theeb, the son of the head of a nomadic tribe in the desert. It is 1916 and the First World War is in full swing, not that Theeb is aware of it. Then one day a British soldier and his Arab interpreter appear outside his tent. The soldier needs a guide to take him to his army. Theeb’s older brother takes on the task and Theeb decides to secretly follow them. Before long, Theeb’s brother has no choice but to take him along. When they are ambushed and Theeb alone survives, he is forced to face the dangers of the desert on his own.
In Venice, Theeb won the award for best film in the Horizon category and was chosen as the best debut film at the London Film Festival. It is a film with unexpected plot twists and old-fashioned suspense. The acting is naturalistic and every aspect of the cinematography is impressive