The story is a good portrayal of friends who love each other but clash because of a disconnect between their backgrounds. I felt the genuine brotherly love between the two and also the unease, especially from Tariq, at the differences due to their families' cultures and access to resources. I think this reality of white/western privilege in white-minority countries is an important subject to talk about, and one that is untapped in cinema.
On a personal level, I know the feeling of wanting to integrate into a culture and know that I will never be able to because I am white and have priveleges and cultural/family history that exclude me from a common bond among others. The perspective from Tariq shown in the film is very important. The conversation he has with the one-armed smuggler about foreigners (aganab) and how they are untethered and ultimately do things for their own benefit is oftentimes true. Tariq's anger at being talked down to as if Cai knows better faces a common behavior of superiority that some westerners have outside of their countries. This film does a decent start bringing up the privelege that white people have outside of their countries, a race (or international) relations dynamic not often present in cinema on a personal level rather than government/national level.
Falconing is something that is huge in the entire region. The little bits and pieces of falcon-training and distinctions between a trained falcon and near-worthless zoo falcon were interesting. It gave the film more credibility. I think Cai's knowledge could have been showcased a bit more, as I'm sure he learned quite a bit not just from books but from living amongst a people that love falcons.
When it comes to the Omani setting, people, and culture of this film, that's where I have mixed feelings. I love the scenery, I love the cinematography in the water and on the rocks, I love that taxis and dress and animals and houses are actually Omani, and I love that (a lot of) the Arabic is actually spoken in Omani dialect(s).
The music choices were not Omani (more African), but still interesting and somehow worked. Pairing Habibi Taal with the opening scene made me smile.
I am not Omani, but I felt disappointed by a few things and tense about a few other things related to the depiction of Omani people and culture in this film, and I believe many Omanis would feel the same and could possibly dismiss the film entirely if they do not separate these aspects from the good parts of the film. These things will go unnoticed by most viewers.
Maybe the only big disappointment for me was some choices for actors. I think Tariq did a great job, but he is obviously not Omani, and even if his mother were Lebanese, if he grew up in Oman, he would be much more integrated with his speech and dress.
Something made me feel that the actresses did not depict typical Omani women, both in behavior and looks. I wonder if there was trouble casting Omani actresses. I won't comment on the women wedding scene (because I have no idea what that actually looks like) only to say that it is shocking to someone who grew up there that it was filmed. As is alluded to in the film, anything having to do with women, marriage, or conflict within families is a very private matter in Oman. I appreciate the honesty in the storytelling, so I am a fan. I just hope it was done as properly as possible. I'm sure just making a film in this country had a bunch of pushback and obstacles.
One huge cultural "no-no" was the scene where Alia was talking one-on-one with Cai. Even if they had been good friends since childhood, since they are not related, it would be unacceptable for them to be alone together. I'm not sure if this was intentionally showing a rebellious character or just cultural norms going over the filmmakers' heads.
TLDR: Overall, the film might not be a very interesting story to the average movie-goer as it is not too exciting. But it is heart-felt, endearing, willing to linger, subtly beautiful, relatable to anyone with a friend, and filmed in and a portraying a country never shown to most international audiences before.
I loved the addition of footage/pics of the real Tariq and Cai at the end. Always great to show part of the true story.
I give it 4/5 and applaud the filmmakers, though I do hope the next film out of Oman is made by Omanis.
On a personal level, I know the feeling of wanting to integrate into a culture and know that I will never be able to because I am white and have priveleges and cultural/family history that exclude me from a common bond among others. The perspective from Tariq shown in the film is very important. The conversation he has with the one-armed smuggler about foreigners (aganab) and how they are untethered and ultimately do things for their own benefit is oftentimes true. Tariq's anger at being talked down to as if Cai knows better faces a common behavior of superiority that some westerners have outside of their countries. This film does a decent start bringing up the privelege that white people have outside of their countries, a race (or international) relations dynamic not often present in cinema on a personal level rather than government/national level.
Falconing is something that is huge in the entire region. The little bits and pieces of falcon-training and distinctions between a trained falcon and near-worthless zoo falcon were interesting. It gave the film more credibility. I think Cai's knowledge could have been showcased a bit more, as I'm sure he learned quite a bit not just from books but from living amongst a people that love falcons.
When it comes to the Omani setting, people, and culture of this film, that's where I have mixed feelings. I love the scenery, I love the cinematography in the water and on the rocks, I love that taxis and dress and animals and houses are actually Omani, and I love that (a lot of) the Arabic is actually spoken in Omani dialect(s).
The music choices were not Omani (more African), but still interesting and somehow worked. Pairing Habibi Taal with the opening scene made me smile.
I am not Omani, but I felt disappointed by a few things and tense about a few other things related to the depiction of Omani people and culture in this film, and I believe many Omanis would feel the same and could possibly dismiss the film entirely if they do not separate these aspects from the good parts of the film. These things will go unnoticed by most viewers.
Maybe the only big disappointment for me was some choices for actors. I think Tariq did a great job, but he is obviously not Omani, and even if his mother were Lebanese, if he grew up in Oman, he would be much more integrated with his speech and dress.
Something made me feel that the actresses did not depict typical Omani women, both in behavior and looks. I wonder if there was trouble casting Omani actresses. I won't comment on the women wedding scene (because I have no idea what that actually looks like) only to say that it is shocking to someone who grew up there that it was filmed. As is alluded to in the film, anything having to do with women, marriage, or conflict within families is a very private matter in Oman. I appreciate the honesty in the storytelling, so I am a fan. I just hope it was done as properly as possible. I'm sure just making a film in this country had a bunch of pushback and obstacles.
One huge cultural "no-no" was the scene where Alia was talking one-on-one with Cai. Even if they had been good friends since childhood, since they are not related, it would be unacceptable for them to be alone together. I'm not sure if this was intentionally showing a rebellious character or just cultural norms going over the filmmakers' heads.
TLDR: Overall, the film might not be a very interesting story to the average movie-goer as it is not too exciting. But it is heart-felt, endearing, willing to linger, subtly beautiful, relatable to anyone with a friend, and filmed in and a portraying a country never shown to most international audiences before.
I loved the addition of footage/pics of the real Tariq and Cai at the end. Always great to show part of the true story.
I give it 4/5 and applaud the filmmakers, though I do hope the next film out of Oman is made by Omanis.
