The Worthy Director: Ali F. MostafaStarring: Mahmoud Al Atrash, Ali Suliman, Samer al Masri

The Worthy

Director: Ali F. Mostafa

Starring: Mahmoud Al Atrash, Ali Suliman, Samer al Masri

Country: UAE

Year: 2016

Author Review: Roberto Matteucci

"I need water."

Based on a script prepared for an American Hollywood film, the young director of UAE, Ali F. Mostafa, presents in the 13th Dubai International Film Festival, The Worthy.

It is a remarkable film because it is a genre not easy to see in Arab cinema. It is an apocalyptic, dystopian, a sci-fi thriller story.

We talk about the future but there are obvious connections with the real time.

The world is shocked, culture and society have disappeared, a total destruction caused by lack of water. All sources are contaminated, there are only small reserves. The human race as we have known it is annihilated. People took refuge in small shelter.

A group of people, led by Shuaib and his two sons, took safe place in a huge abandoned factory in ruins, but with a potable water tank remained decontaminated.

Barricaded themselves inside, they are armed, they do not go out and nobody can enter.

One night, after a fierce battle Shuaib allows two foreigners to enter despite the doubts of others.

Foreigners represent a threat mortal danger. The refuge is not safer.

The first scene is a flashback, the world is still normal; a truck driver helps an old man. He is sad, with dark look, with an inner torment. They come out at Exit 77; the old man gets out and gives him some advice: "Beware the black flags." The truck driver was Shuaib.

It's an action movie, fast, cruel, dark, with macabre and disgusting scenes. The battle is smart, inhuman, a battle between the good - the son of Shuaib - Eissa and the bad, the stranger Jamal.

The end is top secret of course, but start and end are joined by enclosing the whole story in a threatening and scary circle.

The author shows different human characters as the skill and humanity of Shuaib. He has a destined weak moment, and will be fatal.

Eissa has the same courage of his father, adds he is young, love for people and a willingness to be a leader, ready to risk his lives to save others.

Jamal is an evil machine, ready to kill everyone for his goal.

"May he rest in peace" and the camera gets up to show the terrifying devastation around the factory. Around there is no sign of life, only rubbish, everywhere.

The colour of the movie is black, black film, both for the dark night, and both for the walls of the scared factory. But black is also the blood, the tortures physical and mental.

The Worthy is a great sign of maturity for the Arab cinema

Ali F. Mostafa realizes a genre film, a fast film, an intelligent film, a film for worldwide. Actors helped him. Mahmoud Al Atrash is Eissa, very good in the fast actions, and concentrates in to be next worthy. Ali Suliman is Jamal a very good evil, with his beautiful and cold eyes cold.

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