THEEB
 All Critics (72) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (70) | Rotten (2)
 An inversion of Lawrence of Arabia — a film told from the perspective of Arab bedouins rather than colonial adventurers, a scrappy coming of age story rather than a grand tale of epic, colonial ambitions.
 
 February 22, 2016
 
 Alex Shephard
 The New Republic
 TOP CRITIC
 The effectiveness of the story hinges largely on Al-Hwietat, whose performance is both convincing wide-eyed and complex.
 
 February 20, 2016 | Rating: B+
 
 Kevin P. Sullivan
 Entertainment Weekly
 TOP CRITIC
 The burden rests on Eid’s shoulders, and he more than carries it. He’s a natural, showing us Theeb’s curiosity, loyalty and ingenuity while still retaining the innocence of a boy who has been sheltered from the world outside the desert.
 
 January 14, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Bill Goodykoontz
 Arizona Republic
 TOP CRITIC
 First-time director Naji Abu Nowar rehearsed his largely nonprofessional cast for almost a year before shooting began, and as the title character, Jacir Eid beautifully conveys a mix of emotions, from wonder to fear to determination.
 
 December 10, 2015
 
 Fred Camper
 Chicago Reader
 TOP CRITIC
 The further this strikingly assured debut feature by the British-born director Naji Abu Nowar goes along, the more it seems a metaphor for fierce self-determination – an origin story for Middle Eastern discontents.
 
 December 3, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Ty Burr
 Boston Globe
 TOP CRITIC
 Viewed from the perspective of this young Bedouin, Theeb presages both the treacherous partitioning of Arab lands at the end of the Great War, as well as all the terrible echoes of the colonialism that continue to plague us today.
 
 December 3, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
 Marc Savlov
 Austin Chronicle
 TOP CRITIC
 For all its beauty, the stark simplicity of this folk tale with firearms mean it offers few real surprises.
 
 May 8, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Roger Moore
 Movie Nation
 Theeb is a mature, well-realized effort that brings to mind some of Hollywood’s old westerns and epics
 
 June 6, 2019
 
 C.J. Prince
 Way Too Indie
 Nowar makes good use of the Wolfgang Thaler’s experienced camera and the open canvas reminds us of the classic western…
 
 April 10, 2018 | Rating: 2.5/4
 
 Ernesto Diezmartinez
 Cine Vértigo
 Nowar uses the Wadi Rum setting in much the same way as American director John Ford used Monument Valley: as an iconic symbol, but also as such a dominant presence that it takes on the importance of character . . . .
 
 January 16, 2018 | Rating: A-
 
 James Plath
 Family Home Theater
 The epic and the intimate combine impressively in Jordanian director Naji Abu Nowar’s debut feature Theeb.
 
 November 21, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Tom Birchenough
 The Arts Desk
 Part of what makes Theeb such a breath of fresh air is that it narrows its focus, examining a group of individuals (and one in particular) rather than getting stuck in well-meaning liberal “typicality.”
 
 November 21, 2017
 
 Michael Sicinski
 Cinema Scope…